The Only Rules You Need

THREE SIMPLE RULES IN LIFE:

1.  If you do not GO after what you want, you'll never have it.

2.  If you do not ASK, the answer will always be NO.

3.  If you do not step FORWARD, you'll always be in the same place.

The above is all you ever need to know.  It affects every, single thing you do...or don't do.  This doesn't have to do with writing or being a writer.  It has everything to do with dreaming, being, and achieving what you want.  Nothing comes easy, and the best things come hard.  Follow those three rules in all areas of your life, and watch your dreams take hold.  

Time to Get Moving

WRITING WEDNESDAY
For me, summer is two days away.  By 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, freedom reigns . I can't remember looking forward to summer as much as I am right now.  Except maybe once, and that was long ago when my high school graduation approached.  That last summer of being a non-adult was fast approaching.  That last summer to spend with friends, to be free and unencumbered, if only for a few months.

A month ago I blogged about how I'd written only four new pages.  In fact, my total for April was 10 pages.  Ten pages.  That's abysmal.  And, sadly, that's pretty much where I still am.

Now comes the B U T.  By later today, I'll be halfway through the first round of edits on a new book.  They're going well.  The story is there and it's moving along.  Building, even.  I wrote the first draft a year ago and had forgotten about all the things in the story.  I'm pleased with it.  And even though I'm not doing fresh writing, I'm moving forward, and that's the key.  And I'll be done before the end of the weekend.

With the upcoming opportunity to have more time, one would think I'd be waiting until the interruptions of "real" life have begun to fade.  Instead, I chose to dive in ahead of time.  By the time Monday rolls around, I'm hoping my head is back in the writing game, and I can move forward from those pitiful ten pages that were written in April.

Motivation to write is fickle.  After burying myself in a deadline during January and February, I spent March recuperating.  And April being lazy.  I have an idea in mind for a new series, I sort of know the characters and there's a vague idea of where the stories will be going.  And that's it.  The harder I tried to push it, the faster my mind would snap shut.  Agatha Christie was right.  "The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes."  Are you pressed for time in real life?  Is every possible have-to knocking at your door?  Story ideas will abound.  But if you're sitting there, strumming your fingers on the keyboard, waiting for inspiration, you'll get nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  Zero.

When you can't get to the things you really, really want to do, you're going to want to do them that much more.  That has to be one of Murphy's Laws.  You've set your goals, you're ready to roll.  And then life steps up and throws you a curve ball.  You come down with the flu, one of your kids needs a costume for the school play, taxes are due, your partner loses or gains a job.  Major life events happen, along with minor ones, and your plan--your goals--are set aside.

But there's always those dishes to do...  "The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes."  Read that one more time.  The best time for planning a book IS while you're doing dishes.  You've been given the gift of a mindless chore, when you can let your imagination run wild.  Not only is dishwashing time a good one, but any time you have a few quiet moments.  Vacuuming or dusting?  Bedmaking?  Doing laundry?  A fifteen minute break at work or lunch on your own?  Brainstorming can happen at any time, any where.  It doesn't need to be a big chunk of time.  Any bit of time will do.

No time to write?  Of course there is!!  We give non-priority time too much weight. Snatch that 15 minute break at work, or the time spent waiting for school to let out.  Instead of thumbing through magazines at the doctor's office, take a small notebook, brainstorm and make notes.  Whatever comes to mind.

This just popped up on Twitter.

Ralph Marston @ralphmarston

By wisely investing this moment, this hour, this day, this time you're in, you can continue to reap its benefits long after it has passed.

So there it is.  One sentence.  Twenty-five words.  It's time to get moving.  Let's do it!

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. ~ William Penn

We're Never Too Old

WRITING WEDNESDAY
And here everyone thought the school term was about to come to an end until Fall.  For some, that may be true.  But for most of us, we keep learning.

Maybe we don't believe we continue to learn, but it happens.  We often simply don't realize that's what it is.

For me, learning is an ongoing thing, and I welcome it.  Recently the bulk of that learning has been about ebooks and especially about how to format a Word document for conversion to an ebook.  The learning curve isn't as steep as one might think.

The publishing world is changing faster than we can keep up.  This past week, HarperCollins (owned by NewsCorp) announced the upcoming aquisition of Harlequin.  It was like WHOA! for many of us.  Not even a whisper had leaked.  But it isn't just the shifting within traditional publishing that's happening, it's the world of publishing itself that's opening up for all of us.

Ebooks and self-published books have been around for what seems like forever, but it's been in the last decade that electronic has come into its own.  Thanks to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and other online bookstores, the quality and availability of ebooks has risen.

It's true that anybody can publish a book.  What's also true is that there are poor quality books out there.  I downloaded a book from Amazon a few months ago.  I like to read an occasional YA, since it was originally what started me on the road to writing.  This particular book was cute and engaging.  I enjoyed the story.  But there were problems.  Not the formatting, but the writing.  Poor grammar and spelling and punctuation too often pulled me out of the story.  I still enjoyed the story, but not as much as I would have if the writing had been better.  I hope the author takes the time to either have someone professionally edit her books or educates herself on what is needed to write a fabulous book.

Writing isn't simply putting words on paper.  It takes time to learn what's needed to be a good writer.  For some, certain things come more naturally than others.  For some, it takes studying and learning the basics.  But no matter where a writer is, learning should always be a part of writing.

As we write, we grow.  With each new manuscript, we find new ways to write and tell a story a little better.  It takes time.  Don't give up!  The majority of published authors did not sell their first books.  They also didn't give up.  They kept learning and trying.  Yes, rejections are hard and often heart breaking.  We artsy people tend to let the negatives get us down.  But if you're really trying to be a better writer, wallow in a couple of hours of self-pity, then build on your determination to do better by continuing to write and learn.

I'm excited to learn the new things epublishing encompasses.  I've learned a lot by reading books and articles on what it takes to build an ebook, beyond the story.  My toe has been dipping in the water for some time, but I haven't yet made the plunge.  While I'd love to share what I've learned with others, I don't yet feel I know enough to do that.  But I can point to places and people who can help.

If you're thinking of self/epublshing a book, do your homework and start learning.  We've been blessed with access to just about anything anyone would want to know about.  All it takes is looking and asking.  And never give up. We're never too old to learn new things.

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. ~ Walt Disney

Finishing the Dream

WRITING WEDNESDAY
We all dream of things, and especially of doing things.  Writers want to sell a best-selling book.  But without a book to sell, the dream will never come true.

Instead of dreaming, let's start doing.

The first key to the writing dream is to write.  Yeah, you probably already knew that. ☺  But it bears repeating.  Keep telling yourself WRITERS WRITE, and it will become so ingrained in you that you'll start writing, hopefully on a regular basis.  If that means an hour each morning or evening is all you have for writing, do it.  Write.

The second key to to the writing dream is to finish a book.  Hey, isn't that your dream?  Well, a huge step toward your dream, at least.  So what's keeping you from doing it?

EXCUSES FOR NOT WRITING

1. I have a family to care for.  Having been a wife for twenty-four years, and a mom for thirty-four, I understand how hard it is to find the time to do the things you dream of doing.  But hard isn't the same as impossible.  Mothers--and fathers, too--often find their lives filled with nothing but catering to others.  There's nothing wrong with fulfilling responsibilities, but you also should have responsibilities to yourself.  You should give some time to making yourself enjoy the things you want (and need?) to do to be a well-rounded person.
2. I work long hours at my day/night job.  Yeah, I've been there and done that.  Now I work at home, and I still find it difficult to find the time to do everything.
3. I don't know where to start.  You are not alone.  Most people don't, at least in the beginning.
4. I don't have the knowledge to know how to write a book.  Nobody knows everything.  If you have children, do you remember what you knew about babies before having one?  Did you know everything about your job when you were first hired?  Probably not.
5. I don't have a place to write.  Very few do, in the beginning.

Basically, the above are cop-outs.  Excuses.  A way to not fail, because if you don't try, you can't fail.  Here's another:  Don't have a computer or typewriter?  Countless books over the years and up to this moment are written by hand.  There's always an answer and a way, if it's what you truly want.  Miracles happen.  Let them.

Let's take a quick look at the above excuses.

• I have a family to care for.  Yes.  It's "difficult" doesn't mean you can't do it.  Get up an hour earlier in the morning, when the family is still sleeping.  Or stay up an extra hour at night.  Or write when the children are napping or after they've gone to bed.  Write while dinner cooks.  Write while waiting at the school for the kids to emerge, all full of energy.  Write during their sporting events.  Not the entire event, especially if your child is playing, but during the warm-up at every other game?  You don't need huge blocks of time.  Smaller ones work as well. They're there.  Look and you will find.
• I work long hours at my day/night job.  Do you have a lunch hour or half hour?  Write.  Or at least think about your story and take notes.  Yes, we all want to chitchat with our work friends, but two or three days of the week, take take for yourself and your writing.  I'm also familiar with the rest of this.  "And I go home to care for my family."  Do you watch television?  Cut out one to three programs a week and use that time for writing.  Go into an empty room, shut the door--after explaining that you are not to be bothered unless there's blood involved.  Or flames. Or flooding over six inches.  We have to be real about this.  Delegate.  Let the kids or hubby clear the table--if they aren't doing it already--and do the dishes.  Let hubby or oldest child who is responsible watch the others.  And DO NOT feel guilty about taking time for yourself, whether it's writing, spending time with friends, exercising, or taking a walk.  Give yourself the gift of time.  If needed, ask family members to brainstorm with you about how you can find some time.  Remind them that a fulfilled mom is a happy mom.  (This all includes dad-writers, too.)
• I don't know where to start.  This one is hard for me to understand.  If you want to write, there must be something you want to write about.  The answer is at the beginning...of the story, of an idea, of a character, a snippet of conversation or internal thoughts, a snippet of scene playing in your mind.  All of those and others are the beginning.  Your beginning of an idea.  If they aren't coming together, write them down.  In time, they'll evolve, especially if you give them a read, now and then.
• I don't have the knowledge to know how to write a book.  Then I have to believe you've never read a book.  Ever.  It's a story of a person...or two people...or a family...or an incident...or...  My advice?  Read more books!  After that, find books about writing.  There are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of books out there about writing.  Or try online.  Look for the basics, at first.  Worry about the details later.  Join a writers group.  You'll immediately discover that you are not crazy, or if you are, you aren't the only one.  People in writers groups, both live and online, can be the door that opens your world of writing.  The plus is finding new friends who won't put you down for wishing and dreaming.
• I don't have a place to write.  I chuckle at this one.  Why?  Because I have a place, but not a day goes by--or an hour--when someone doesn't step in to tell me something or ask a question.  And if I'm home alone, the phone will ring.  Oh!  You mean a real place?  Then make one.  A corner in your bedroom, the attic, the basement, the kitchen or dining room table, although that does mean that when mealtime comes, you'll be moving your things elsewhere.  Go outside and write.  In your car, if necessary.  Even the library!

Excuses are now gone.  Start writing.  Don't worry about what it's about.  If this is your first time to write, revel in it.  Enjoy it!  You're writing!

Now that you're beginning, don't worry about finishing quite yet.  We'll really take a close look at that next week on Writing Wednesday.  You're dreaming of writing and you're making that dream come true!  That's what's important right now.

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying. ~ Michael Jordan

Begin Your Dream, Then Finish It

WRITING WEDNESDAY
Millions of people dream of writing a book.  In fact, it's said that in the U.S. alone, 200 million people want to write a book.  Only a small percentage actually do.

Maybe you're one of that small percentage who has actually sat down at a keyboard or held a notebook and pen/pencil in hand and started writing.  If so, I salute you!  It's the first step of making your dream come true.

But there's more to it than that first step of beginning.  The hardest part is to finish writing that story.

An idea springs to mind, and we start writing.  Before long, we lose interest, we hit a wall, we start to lose interest in our characters or story.  Or all of those things!  And then we quit.  We shove the story aside and wait for inspiration on a new story.

A few false starts aren't bad.  Nothing but starts isn't good.  How will you know if you're able to write a complete book, if you stop a few chapters into writing it?   Some authors do well with 80,000 to 120,000 word books.  Others aren't comfortable writing anything more than 50K to 75K   Some writers panic at the thought of anything over 30,000 words, while others enjoy writing short stories.  What do you feel is your comfort zone?

I'm here today to tell you that tossing it aside isn't always the best thing to do.  In fact, if you're a new writer, it's one of the worst things you can do.  I have everything I've ever written saved, either in hard copy or on computer (disk or whatever).  I became serious about writing with the hope of someday have my books published in 1996.  Because my focus then--and still is--romance, I joined Romance Writers of America (RWA) and went to my first National RWA Conference in July that year.  Kathie DeNosky and I had met briefly online, and we met in person at that conference.  Within very little time, we became friends with two other aspiring authors, Janet Lee Barton and Belinda Barnes.  The four of us eventually formed our own, small critique group.  It was Kathie who pushed me into entering writing contests.  My first entry, Contract for Love, placed Honorable Mention in the Love in Uniform Contest in 1996.

I entered more contests, each time with a finished manuscript.  After placing or winning in six more contests with three other finished manuscripts, I hit the jackpot in 1999's Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Excellence and won first place with the first 30 pages of the book in the Unpublished Short Contemporary Category.  When the final judge, Silhouette Editor Mary-Theresa Hussey, asked to see the full manuscript of The Rancher and the Runaway Mom, it was written.  In April of 2000, I got The Call that Silhouette Romance wanted to buy my book.  (A short P.S. on this.  Every other book I'd entered in contests had been completely finished when I entered, except this one.  I was short less than two chapters when I sent in the entry, and I finished it, long before the finalists were announced.)

By the time I SOLD what later became Rachel's Rescuer, I'd written nine previous books.  Of the ten, including my first sale, half of them have been published.  Those other five?  I still have them, and plan someday to rewrite, revise, and polish.  The stories aren't bad, but they need work, and I've learned SO MUCH in the years since I first wrote them.  Cowboy Over a Barrel (original title) and published as A Saddle Made for Two, was my second Silhouette Romance.  The Cowboy and the Ice Princess (published as The Rodeo Rider, the first in what has become a 10-book series) was my second Harlequin American Romance.  Who knew they'd love cowboys as much as I love writing them?

If all that sounds like bragging, it isn't.  Admitting and patting yourself on the back or having others pat you on the back makes doing the hard work that much more special.  Kathie has by far surpassed me in the writing world.  She sold her first Silhouette (now Harlequin) Desire on my birthday in 1999.  Belinda sold in December of that same year.  Of the three of us, I came in third in April of 2000.  Jealousy never had a place in our friendships and never will.  Envy?  Yes, but along with that came admiration and Kathie kicking my backside to keep me going.  I have no room to brag.  Sharing the things I've learned (and will continue to learn) with others makes me hopeful that one smidgen of something I've shared might be the one thing needed to create an award winning book and author.

So now you know why tossing a beginning aside isn't a good thing, right?  But why?

• Each book started as an idea.  Ideas grow into completed books, if you stick with it.
• As a writer, each finished manuscript is a learning process.  You grow as a writer with each one.  If you're part of a critique group or enter contests, there will be people who are willing to help, to tell you your strong points and help with your weak points.
• If a book doesn't sell, it might be perfect later.  Publishing tastes change.  Those tastes could be right up your writing alley.   

Here are a few tips I've learned along the way.  Whether you're just beginning or have been writing for much longer, but feel you're getting stuck and going nowhere with your writing, these are a few things to keep in mind and give some thought.

1. READ!!  What type (genres and sub-genres) are your favorite reads?  Which of those do you feel you are best at writing?
2. Study and know your market.  Always keep in mind that what's selling now may or may not be hot in the future, but it's worth a try.  Yes, some writers make it big with something completely different, but it's rare.
3. Hone your skills.  This includes grammar, spelling, and all the mechanics of writing.  Editors (if traditionally published) will love you for this.  Readers (if you're self-publishing) will, too!  There's not much worse than trying to read a good story, while bad writing keeps pulling you out of it.
4. Learn to plot.  It doesn't have to be scene by scene, chapter by chapter, but have a solid idea of how and where the story begins, turning points, hooks, black moments and resolutions (aka Happily Ever Afters).  If you don't understand those terms, check out some of my older blog posts and especially check out the blogs, books, and advice of other authors!
5. Your non-writing friends and family can be a part of your pep club, but they will always love your writing, no matter what.  Get outside that circle t learn.  Join a writing group, a critique group, or enter contests.
6. Keep learning.  Always.  Nothing is better than knowledge, not even talent.  Without knowledge, even the most talented will struggle.
7. Don't give up!!  I was lucky enough to find writing friends who wouldn't let me do that.  Throwing in the towel was something I often considered, but they kept me from doing it.  My mantra became, If you quit now, the next book probably would have the THE ONE. Who wants to tempt fate that much?
8. Enjoy writing, but also enjoy life, yourself, your family and friends.
9. WRITE!!  Each time you sit down to write, whether it's been an hour, a day, a week or months, you'll learn knew things.  If something isn't working, try thinking about it from a different direction.
10. FINISH THE BOOK!!  Because an unfinished book will languish.  Until you finish writing that first book, you'll never know the wild exhilaration of writing THE END.

One more special hint and the reason I'm blogging about this.  Write on, don't edit.  I hear a lot of "But...but..." out there, so here are two great links I found today, which led me to write this blog post.

• Lessons from Oleander–The Dangers of Premature Editing, one of Kristen Lamb's blog posts, this one from yesterday (March 25, 2014).  Short, sweet and to the point.
• 5 Tips for Writing Quickly and Effectively from workawesome.com

Read them.  Think about them.  Ask yourself if you're brave.  Maybe next week we'll look a little closer at what these two blogs/articles have to say.  Why?  Because it's important.  Write on!

Never give up; for even rivers someday wash dams away. ~ Arthur Golden

Settings Make a Difference

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

Where you set your story is a major factor when writing.  Sometimes your characters or the story itself will automatically tell you where your story is set.

Is your story set in a city or a small town?  Is it rural?  Is it set in the present, past, or future?

After choosing where to set your story, the first thing you need to do is to familiarize yourself with it.  

This morning I saw a book on Amazon that I thought might be a good one to buy and read.  I have a habit of checking reviews.  I don't usually read all of them, but I do read some from each rating.  4 and 5 star ratings tell me what other readers liked about the book.  3, 2, and 1 star ratings tell me what readers didn't like.  This time I was looking for something specific.  The story was set near a town I've visited.  The author's bio said she's lived all over the world.  Wonderful!  But did she 'know' about the area where she'd set the book?  The answer, thanks to a thoughtful and honest but fair review, came from someone who knows the location.  The author's setting was wrong in many ways.  My curiosity satisfied, I didn't purchase the book.  Huge things like wrong setting will pull me out of a story almost as quickly as poor grammar, punctuation and writing style.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

It really does help to be personally familiar with your setting.  That doesn't mean you had to spend most of your life in a specific city or state, or even a foreign country.  Much can be learned from others and from research.  Details can be broad, instead of specific.  But a child's party set outside in February in northeast Kansas probably won't work.  It snows in Kansas in the winter, and February is known for its snow here.  Sometimes, especially in that area, quite a lot.

I've set books in a variety of locations.

• A ranch in Montana
• Rodeo arenas in different areas of the country
• Small and large ranches in different states
• Kansas City
• A dude ranch in the Hill Country of Texas
• A casino in Bosier City, Louisiana
• Small town Oklahoma and Kansas

Sitting in my drawer are manuscripts that may not see publication, and these, too, have varied settings.  A tropic island, the mountains of Colorado, Maine, a large city and more.  

I've been to Montana and know other people who live there.  I have friends in Texas and Oklahoma.  I've traveled to 48 of the 50 states, and I've been in a casino.  Twice.  I was a baby the first time and was asked to leave. ☺ I've lived in a larger city, a small town and on a farm.  I haven't been to Paris or London or Tokyo, but I could find enough information to set a story there, if I really wanted to.

If your book is set in the past, you'll have more research to do about locations, society, mores, transportation, dress, and...  For a book set in the future, you'll have more leeway.  Still, if it's set on earth and not a galaxy far, far away, you'll need to know what has changed and why.

SHOW, DON'T TELL

Back in high school English class, we studied many of the classics.  We were given several books by different authors to choose from.  Somehow that I don't remember, my author was Thomas Hardy.  Did I choose Tess of the d'Urbervilles or Far from the Madding Crowd?  No, I chose Return of the Native.  I wish I could say I remember the story.  I don't.  What I do remember is plunging into the book, wishing I'd chosen anything else.  Well into it, our teacher gave us a hint:  Skip the first 50 pages or so.  It's nothing more than a description of the landscape of the moors.  Go back and read it after you finish reading the rest of the book.  Well, duh!  By then, I was well into the book and understood very well why skipping those pages might be a good idea.

We're different than the people who lived during that time.  Our lives have become hurry-up-and-get-there, and we want to read stories that have beginnings that don't bore us.  We also don't care for long, tedious descriptions of anything.  In one book I read, years ago, the heroine took the hero on a tour of her house.  All the furnishings and knickknacks were included.  I didn't get far with my reading.  I didn't really care about all her things.  I really don't enjoy a description of what each character wears each day.  Well, I might, if the character's taste in clothing is a bit odd, but keep it at a minimum, please.

On the other hand, giving a reader an idea of the tastes and likes of a character can be important.  A two-story ranch house.  A log cabin in the woods by a lake.  An upscale townhouse in the city, with every conceivable amenity.  If the tub is sunken, say so.  Is the house light and airy or filled with antiques?  Antiques?  Beautiful!  But don't describe every time in each room.

In my upcoming August Harlequin American Romance, The Cowboy Meets His Match, the heroine asks the hero for a brief tour of his home.  They'd known each other as children, but it's been many years since they've seen each other.  The hero now owns the ranch that had belonged to his uncle.

   “This really is a beautiful house,” Erin said, taking in everything as Jake gave her a tour. “I don’t recall ever being in it when we were growing up. Are these your uncle’s furnishings?”

   “Some,” he said, “but I’ve made a few changes.”

   She didn’t remember him being all that interested in things like colors and decorating. She hadn’t been, either, and she wanted to learn how much he’d changed over the years they’d been apart. “Show me.”

   As they walked down a wide hallway, the heels of her fancy shoes clicking on the polished wood floor, he pointed out several paintings. “I picked these up at different places, here and there. Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada.”

   She studied the beautiful landscapes hanging on the walls, and turned to him. “You traveled around a lot?”

   “A little. I worked at four different ranches over the past…well, I guess it’s been about thirteen years. I learned something new at each one, so it was worth it.”

Those paintings were a quick way to convey information about the hero's past to the heroine, without getting into a long and complicated explanation or saying 'you've been gone a long time.  What did you do?'  A little later, and another small detail:

   (snip) He led her back to the living room, where she put the glasses on a large, low table.

   He poured the champagne into the glasses, and she took the one he offered. After setting the bottle aside, he took her hand and settled her on the long, red sofa, then sat next to her. “Comfortable?”

A small thing, here and there--a few paintings, a red sofa, and maybe a gleaming wood floor, give the reader an idea of the space where the character lives.  And it can all be scattered throughout the scene in bits and pieces, both in internal thoughts and dialogue.

Or maybe it's clothing.

It's clear from the beginning that my heroine isn't a frilly, girly-type girl.  A former barrel racer, now working on a ranch, she wears jeans and T-shirts, boots, and a hat nearly all the time.  Her choice of clothing is only randomly mentioned...until she wears a dress to formal dance.  Long, black, sleek, with a low neckline and a back that dips down to her waist.

   Erin stared at her reflection in the antique cheval mirror. The dress Glory had insisted she buy had her wondering if she’d lost her mind. She’d never worn anything like it.

   Standing behind her, Glory smiled. “It’s beautiful, Erin. I knew that dress would be perfect.”

   Pressing her lips together, Erin’s gaze met Glory’s in the mirror. “You’re sure it’s not too much?” She smoothed her hands down the black fabric that fit like a second skin. “I mean—”   "Perfect"

  

Later, from the hero's POV:

His gaze lingered on the low neckline of her dress.

And again:

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked, rubbing his thumb on her bare back. “And where’d you find this dress?”

There's no detail by detail description of the dress.  Give the reader the basics, and then let imagination fill in what isn't described.

Use sensory details, when possible.  Using smoothed her hands shows the fabric is sleek and soft. The low neckline of her dress, mentioned later, tells the reader a little more detail.  And rubbing his thumb on her bare back finishes the description, because a man's hand while dancing is usually placed in the middle or lower back of his partner.

The same small descriptions can be used with anything.  Because settings are integral in our story, especially at the beginning when we want to set the stage, descriptions will do that.  Make it special.  Try for an opening hook and set that stage.

Trish Clayborne sat in the warmth of her car at the stop sign, blinking away the tears filling her eyes.  Home.  She was almost home.

Obviously the character is feeling emotion.  Sad or happy?  We don't know.  Yet.  And it must be cold weather, if she's in the warmth of her car.

From the intersection of the county road and the main street of town, Desperation, Oklahoma, resembled something out of a foggy dream.  Colorful, twinkling lights draped the storefronts, and giant red and white candy canes adorned each of the street lights.  A misty haze, caused by the remnant of the dusting of snow that barely covered the ground, created halos around the lights and gave the deserted street an eeriness that contradicted the friendliness of the town and its inhabitants.  ~~The Lawman's Little Surprise (HAR July 2010)

 The intersection of the county road and the main street of town, plus the stop sign in the previous paragraph, shows it's more than likely a small town.  The name of the town is given, and we now know the location: Desperation, Oklahoma.  We know it's near Christmas because of lights draped on the storefronts and especially the red and white candy canes.  We learn about that foggy dream, by a misty haze, and what causes it--a remnant of the dusting of snow that created halos around the lights.  The town (street) appears deserted and eerie, yet it's a contradiction of the friendliness of the town.  We now know it's a small town, probably late at night and near Christmas.  Your first thought after reading that paragraph is that it's a good place to live.  It's home to the character.  So why is she crying?

Most books now don't start with long description.  We're told that a story needs to start when something happens and everything changes.  Starting with dialogue works well, as do internal thoughts.  Don't take my word for it, or even my examples.  Read some of your favorite books by your favorite authors and see how they do it.

Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s. ~ Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Survival of the Fittest

WRITING WEDNESDAYS THURSDAY

Not only are Thanksgiving and Black Friday over for the year, but the 2012 edition of NaNoWriMo will end tomorrow.  In my mind, I see writers at their desks with their heads down as they race to the finish line to see how close they can each get to that 50,000 word goal.

Fifty thousand words written in a month.  Amazing.  Wonderful.  Exhausting.

I joke, but this is really serious stuff.  Anyone who even gave it a try this year is a winner.  Setting a goal and working toward it is something to be proud of, even if the goal isn't quite reached, participating in something like NaNo is an achievement that shouldn't be passed of as nothing.  It's something.   Just the act of trying is courageous.  But isn't a lot of life the same?

The old proverb, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," [1840 T. H. Palmer Teacher's Manual 223] holds true for everything in life.  Well, the good stuff, anyway.  We don't want to keep trying to be evil and mean and blackhearted.  What we do want is to be successful in the things we do, from being a good person, a good parent, and at least have a modicum of success in the things we choose to do.  While it's true that we can't always be highly successful in everything, sometimes we don't know our true worth until we reach for that brass ring.  Missing it isn't failing, because trying, itself, is positive forward motion.  Don't throw in the towel too soon.

Because writing is one of the arts, it takes time to hone the craft.  In honing, we often learn from our mistakes.  One of the things we can count on 99% of the time is that we our work will be rejected at least once. Please note that the WE is crossed out.  I did that for a reason, because while our work may be rejected, we as persons are not.  Granted, it hurts.  Yes, it can feel personal.  But the key to keep in mind is that a rejection is not just what some call "an invitation to resubmit" but a chance to learn something.  It can be the catalyst to dig a little deeper or try again for that spark that makes a story cry out in a sea of other stories.

Rejections aren't only for those trying to break into publishing, but for those who have a backlist.  Yes, published authors get rejections, too.  And they try again.  The proof is in the pudding.  My pudding.  In June last year (2011), I submitted two proposals for two new stories set in Desperation, OK.  They were rejected in July, with an invitation to revise and resubmit.  I revised, resubmitted (August) and was rejected (September) again.  Definitely a time to reconsider.  I decided to keep the heroine in one story, because she's been a minor character in the series, but to give her a new hero and story, then write a completely new story for the second, with a completely new hero & heroine.  I submitted those at the end of October.  They were rejected mid-December.

To say I was disappointed and questioning my ability to write anything beyond my name would be an understatement.  But I wasn't completely down quite yet.  I took a deep breath and wondered what to do.  I had two more story ideas with brother heroes that were left over from my Silhouette Romance days, so I quickly worked up proposals on them and sent them to my agent and editor in mid-January.  When they both were accepted, I breathed a big sigh of relief, patted myself on the back and immediately set to work writing them.  If I'd given up after those three rejections, A NANNY FOR THE COWBOY (March 2013) and DESIGNS ON THE COWBOY (June 2013) would be nothing but old story notes.

There are so many things to think about when writing a book, and it sometimes seems that the more we know, the harder the writing can be.  Unfettered writing, such as that done during NaNo, can sometimes unearth some of our best work, only because we're not questioning each word written.

Whether you're wrapping up NaNoWriMo for this year, or you're fearing another rejection, or even if you've recently stuck your toe in the dark but sparkling waters of writing, stay strong.  Work hard, grow that thick skin so your psyche and muse don't become too bruised by the journey, and be fit enough to survive.  To quote Spock, "Live long and prosper."

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. - Jimmy Dean, Actor, Singer and Businessman

NaNoWriMo: When Word Count is Your Goal

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

If you haven't been paying attention for the past ten plus years, you might have missed hearing about National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo.  I admit that until a few years ago, I was clueless and had no idea what that "gibberish" meant.  Since then, I've become more enlightened and given quite a lot of thought to participating.  If I didn't seem to always fall in the middle of some kind of deadline, I would have jumped in last year or even the year before.  The same holds true for this year.  Unfortunately, revisions don't net 50,000 words, as a rule.  (I have managed to accrue a few thousand, though, so imagine what that means. ;) )

For anyone who thinks that writing 50,000 words in a month (NaNo runs each year from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30) is an easy task, it isn't.  Okay, back in the day when I first started writing towards the goal of being published, I could write a 50,000 word book in three weeks or less.  And some of those books written that fast weren't half bad.  They weren't always half good, either.  But let's face it.  A book written that quickly is basically nothing more than a first draft.  It takes me longer now to write that first draft.  To write a book from scratch via NaNo, I'd have to write more almost three times faster.  Oy vey!

There are tricks to writing a first draft that fast, and one of them is knowing who your characters are and where the story is going.  Trying to do it with no road map will probably net the writing a lot of rewriting in the future.  For those who enjoy rewriting and revising, this is a plus.  For Geminis like me who get easily bored with the SaMoSaMo, it's not so great, but for others who have polished and tweaked their process...WOW!

There are tricks to writing for NaNo or for any type of fast draft writing.  If word count really is your goal, but you want to have something to substantial to build on, have a plan and especially a system.  I encourage you to look around for hints and tips and the processes of others.  Then, as national bestselling author Anna DeStefano says:

"Listen to what I do, watch others, then figure out your own process and how best to improve how YOU write. So YOU can draft better and more productively and have what you need to rewrite something brilliant from those rough first words."

and check out her new blog post, How We Write: Drafting freedom.  You don't want to miss it!

More Than Just Writing

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

If you haven't heard or noticed that the world of publishing has been changing at lightning speed, then you probably aren't a writer.  Or even a reader.  Or you live in a cave somewhere near Outer Mongolia.  More opportunities to find a home for your book---your baby or even baby-of-the-moment---keep opening up every day.

Those lightning-fast changes affect more than the Who and Where and even the How of our writing. There have always been additional things that are needed before a book hits the shelves. The MORES of writing are growing by leaps and bounds, too. They include the social media, the cover art, the revisions, the bios, the galleys, the promo, and the what-will-I-work-on-next, just to name a few.  For those who are self- or indie-publishing, there may be the formatting, the uploading, and the tricks of salesmanship to get on the Top Whatever list.

As writers, our main goal is to get our books, the stories of our heart, into the hands of readers---as many hands as fast as we can.  The two most significant reasons for that are:

• We want to share our dreams and tales with others
• We want to make money with our writing

SHARING

Even a baby wants attention and praise, and that's really what that sharing boils down to.  Sharing isn't necessarily altruistic.  We're human.  We want others to like us and like what we do.  Let's face it, if all we got from sharing was negative return, we wouldn't do it and we might very well give up writing...or at least keep our writing to ourselves.  (Diaries and journals, anyone?) 

MAKING MONEY

For most of us, writing is a business or we hope it will be.  While it may be true that in the beginning our writing was selfish and only for us to enjoy, the moment we give it to someone else, we're looking for a positive return.  For instance, I've been writing for as long as I've been able to string words together that made sense.  Diaries and journals at first, of course, which were not shared.  Not ever!  I wrote plays in grade school.  One look at my bio will tell you that I wanted to share those and how I went about it.  When I began writing later on in life, sharing or even selling a book wasn't my goal.  Not at first.  I wanted nothing more than to see if it was as much fun as I thought it might be and to prove to myself that I could actually write a complete book.  It didn't take long before I started wondering if there might be a miracle in my future.

THE MORES

So now we're writing.  We're hoping to share or we have moved on to sharing our gift with others.  And I say "gift" because that's what I believe it is.  I also believe everyone has a gift, but that's for a future blog. :)  Maybe we've sold or published our first book or even our tenth or our twentieth or even more.  We're writers and writing is what we do.  But it isn't the only thing we do.  Even before a book is finished, there are other things that must be done.

• Revisions & Galleys - None of us are perfect.  Even after going through a manuscript multiple times, there will be words and phrases that need to be changed, removed or simply cleaned up.  HINT:  Don't fall in love with your words too much.
• Covers and front matter - After the story, the cover of the book comes in a close second.  It's what readers see first, even before discovering what the book is about.  We want that cover to convey that story.  Some publishers ask for input.  Those who are self- and indie-published have more input, whether hiring someone to do the cover or doing it themselves.  Front matter is what goes inside the book aka your bio (see below), a dedication, a map, a genealogy chart, and whatever else is needed.  It's all as important as the book, so don's skimp on this and think it doesn't matter.  It does.  HINT:  Be thinking about this as you're writing the book.  Make notes, if needed.
• Promo - This can be anything from having bookmarks made to setting up book signings and speaking engagements. The signings and speaking engagements can be done alone or in a group.  Doing it with another author or a group of authors can be fun and helpful.   HINT:  If you're part of a writers' group and not sure if you want to get up in front of people, practice on the group.
• Bio -  Yes, readers want to know a little about you.  You're just as curious about the authors of books you read, too, aren't you?  But the big question is what do you include?  To answer it, think about what you want to know or enjoy reading in the bios of others.  If you're not sure of that, go read a few.  Be prepared to write bios of different lengths and keep them handy, in case you're asked for one.  Most bios in books are shorter, while bios on websites are longer and tell more.  Bios can be third person or first person, whichever fits your need and your style.  Some authors choose to be less specific about where they life and supply only the state or area.  There's nothing wrong with this, so decide what you're more comfortable sharing with strangers.  HINT:  Keep your bio(s) up to date!
• Social Media - It hasn't been that long ago that a simple website would suffice when it came to online  connections with readers.  Now we have more choices than colors in the rainbow.  It can get crazy out there in no time at all, so before you jump into the latest craze, give some thought to what your goal is when using any one of the many platforms to get your name out there.  In fact, revisiting this topic at a later date here on the blog is now penciled into my Help! What Can I Blog About file.  HINT: It probably wouldn't hurt to have your own Help! What Can I (fill in the blank) About file.

The above is only the tip of the MORES iceberg.  As publishing continues to change and morph, others will appear.  The trick is for each writer to find what works best, because each will find something to like and something to not like.  Each will have a specific strength and a weakness to go with it.  Other things will fall into the middle.  There are always deadlines lurking around every corner, whether publisher deadlines or self-inflicted ones.  And sometimes there simply isn't enough time to deal with everything, especially when that last of the MORES comes along = WHAT WILL I WORK ON NEXT?

Part of being sane, is being a little bit crazy. ~ Janet Long

Incentives and Rewards

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

Ask any child who has been in school for the past couple of decades what teachers did to get them to work.  Ask anyone whose livelihood depends on receiving a regular paycheck what gets them to work every day.  Ask anyone training for the Olympics or the Symphony or the stage what gets them to practice.

We all need a reason to do what we do, and many times that reason is that we'll receive something in exchange for doing it.

I didn't realize how much time had changed until my daughters started school and came home with something called Bonus Bucks or even a colorful pencil or handful of candy.  Teachers had learned that using incentives helped students try harder to get their work done so they could get a small reward.  I don't remember incentives other than good grades when I went to school.  My parents didn't pay me for my grades and, in turn, I didn't pay my children for them either.  The incentive wasn't tangible at the time and wouldn't be until I held a diploma aka reward in my hand.  That was the incentive and the reward for studying.  Either way, we had a reason to go to school and learn.

As writers, we, too, need incentives and rewards to keep at our craft, to put words on paper, to finish the book, to bite the bullet and send it to an editor or agent.  There's no reason to list the rewards.  Anyone who is seriously writing knows them as well as their own names.  It's the same for published authors as it is for those not yet published.  We all want a finished product to put in the hands of readers who will enjoy our words.

The longer we write, the more we forget about the little things that can help keep us going.  I'm as bad as anyone else about writing every day, even though I know it keeps my brain fresh and my fingers more nimble.  Or nimble, at least. :)  Since February, I've been working on deadlines for two books that will be available next year.  That's seven months of telling myself to write every day and making a schedule so I don't lose sight of where I am and where I need to be, when I'd rather be doing anything else but writing.  It's easy to procrastinate in the middle of a book.  Weeks have been spent writing, and weeks more are needed.  It's like standing in the middle of a tightrope.  Where we came from is the same distance as where we're going, and the best we can do is hope we don't lose our balance.

Over the past seven months I've learned a few lessons.  Although small, they're important.

• I should always...ALWAYS...count on something coming along to screw up the perfect schedule I created with lots of extra time built in.
• While I used to write at night, now I'm up early in the morning to take grandkids to school, so by the time 9 p.m. rolls around, it's as if my memory has dried up and blown away.  I'm lucky to remember my own name, much less the names of my current characters...or family.
• I can't always count on weekends for catching up on the writing that didn't get done during the week.  Someone or something will always come along and steal my time, whether it's an unexpected visit from one or more of the g-kids, an unplanned shopping excursion, or a car that won't start.
• Even when I think I'm almost done, I'm not.  There's always another story rattling around in my head before the first is finished.  To be honest, there should be.
• ....  Can we say brb?

Right.  I didn't finish that last one.  I forgot about an appointment and had to leave, so 5 1/2 hours later, I'm back and don't have a clue what that last one is.  See how that works?

Back to the topic...

Big rewards are good, but when looking at the goal from three months out, that reward dims in the light of day.  The cure?  Choose small, daily incentives with rewards to keep moving along.  That doesn't mean spending money.  There are many things that can be even more helpful to meet those small, daily goals.  It's the new fall season for TV, and what better time to set a goal and work to reach it before your favorite show comes on?  Or maybe a chapter of a book you want to read.  Or, like me, just being able to mark my progress on a calendar and word count table can give me a lift or be an incentive to do better the next time.

And for the rewards?  Something special, always.  Today I was able to put FINIS on my current work, so not only is the pressure off, but I have a few days to kick back and be free from writing.  Not much of a reward?  Maybe not, but Fall Renaissance Fair is this weekend, and I know of a special gift to get myself.  Then back to work on Monday and a fresh new start on a new story and new schedule.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!  Make your journey as joyous as your destination.

Call it what you will, incentives are what get people to work harder. ~ Nikita Khrushchev 

Smell the Roses

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

Too many of us live on a treadmill, doing the same things every day.  We get up, go to work, come home to watching TV, eat, sleep, and then start all over again the next day.  Weekends are often filled with doing the things we didn't have time for during the week.  Not fun things, but catching up on laundry, buying groceries, and other chores.  My own schedule isn't too far off that.  In fact, for the past few months, even weekends have resembled weekdays, with only bits and pieces of time to get away from work and the tedious schedule of day to day.  Let's face it.  This isn't the way to live.  It isn't healthy--physically or mentally.

Two weeks ago I blogged about refilling the well, and that's pretty much the theme of today's blog post, too. Why?  Because sometimes we have to be told over and over to give ourselves a break.  Sometimes we need to be reminded repeatedly that we need to do something for ourselves.  Not randomly, but on a regular schedule.

After doing a little research, I blogged about this same thing last Saturday at Bits & Bytes, and I decided to share a little of that here.  Yes, it's that important, especially for women, because we tend to spend a large portion of our lives doing for others. In fact, the prevalence for depression is twice as common in women as it is in men.  Looking back over my own life, I can definitely see that pattern.  Added to that are statistics showing that artists, writers, and creative people are also more apt to suffer from depression.

Houston, we have a problem. 

We need to stop and smell the roses.  

ARTIST DATE
Of the many things in Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way, one of the best ways to keep life on an even keel is to use Artist Dates.  "An artist date is a block of time, perhaps two hours weekly, especially set aside and committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist.  In its most primary form, the artist date is an excursion, a play date that you preplan and defend against all interlopers."   

An Artist Date should be done once a week and ALONE.  Sorry, no taking the baby, or even the dog.  This is for you and you need to focus on yourself.  It's used for enjoyment and relaxation, not worry.  (Yes, it's time to be selfish!)  Suggestions include visiting a junk shop, a museum, a park, a concert, and more.  These "dates" don't have to cost money.    Keep your eyes and ears open (local newspapers, TV, and radio) for opportunities.


REFILL THE WELL
(From the list found at Well Done -- Bit's & Bytes)

• MUSIC  Is there anyone out there who doesn't enjoy listening to music?  Not music we listen to for inspiration while writing.  This music is for our own enjoyment, be it pop, rock, country, jazz, showtunes, classical, etc.  Whatever you choose, it should make you smile, calm your nerves, and, yes, even put you to sleep, if sleep is what you need.
• DANCE  Yes, dance. I'm pretty certain that if left alone, with no one around to watch, most of us could dance away some time.  Whether it comes from a radio, a playlist, a CD/Mp3 or whatever, put on some music with a beat, get on your feet, and dance.  In only a few minutes, you'll be smiling.  Maybe even laughing.  And probably winded. ☺ Your blood will be pumping, which will produce more endorphins, giving you a natural high.  Wow!
• YOGA/MEDITATION  Once again, both of these are catching on.  Why?  Because they can make us feel better, not only spiritually and mentally, but physically, too.  Don't believe me?  Look it up!
• WALKING  As with dance, this gets the body moving.  Try to walk outside, whenever possible.  That fresh air is good for the body and the soul.  Make a habit of it.  And remember to ENJOY!  Nature is all around us, so keep your eyes and ears open.
• WATCH A MOVIE  I love movies.  All kinds of movies.  Some lift me up, some make me think, some make me laugh, while others make me cry.  For that couple of hours, I can stop thinking of what might be wrong in my own life and let the story take me away.  Be sure to do this one on your own.  No hubby beside you on the sofa.  Just you.  And if you absolutely can't watch it alone at home, try looking for a local theater that has matinees at a reduced price.  We have one that shows movies about to go to DVD, and Tuesdays the tickets are $1.
• READ A BOOK  I'm guilty of not doing this one enough.  I get busy and forget, or when I do remember, I'm too tired for even the best of books to keep me awake.  One way of solving this is to set a specific day of the week and a specific time to read for an hour or two.  Maybe it's only a chapter or two, but it's something.  Or use reading a book by your favorite author as a reward for finishing your manuscript.
• TAKE A MINI-VACATION  Doesn't this one sound wonderful?  In the past, I would visit a high school friend in my old hometown.  It was nice to get away from home, and because we're both single now, we didn't have to answer to anyone.  An overnight in a hotel/motel can be a refreshing escape from family and work priorities.  Great for catching up on sleep, too!

Check out Exploring Women's Creativity: A Guide for Creative Women on www.Womenfolk.com for more ideas on Filling the Well, Renewal Through Walking and more.

No matter what you do, remember to be aware of what's going on inside and outside of you.  If you're not feeling well, see a doctor.  If you've over-scheduled yourself, find one or two things that can be dropped from your life or at least set aside for another time.  Learn how to say NO.  It's something we all need to do more often.  And SMILE!  You'll not only have fewer frown lines, but people will wonder what you've been up to!

“Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.” ~  Douglas Pagels

The Downside of 3-Day Weekends

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

The first three-day weekend of the new school year has just passed, and I'm still scratching my head over what happened to all those best laid plans.

Yes, I know.  Three-day weekends are supposed to be wonderful.  This Labor Day weekend was not.  At least it wasn't wonderful in the sense that it went according to plan, that I was able to scratch things off my list and enjoy the days.

Scarlett & Allie with Darth

On Saturday, my plan was to write the last chapter of Designs on the Cowboy. Instead, #3 daughter Chelsea (#3D) decided to take me, #4D Mallory, and her two nieces Allie and Scarlett to the Star Wars exhibition in town for the final three days.  Yes, I could have said no, but miss seeing all that great Star Wars stuff?  (Remember, I'm old enough to have seen Episode IV in the theater when it first came out.)  So the hour or so that she assured me was all the time it would take became the whole afternoon.  That included about a 1/3 round of mini-golf in the upper 90s heat.  Evening was spent at #1D Sabrina's for dinner and insanity.
Saturday was blown, but worth it.

On Sunday I finished writing the last chapter aka the book is finished.  First draft, anyway.  (By the way, it went on and on and on and will have to be severely cut before calling the whole thing "done".)  Monday was spent trying to figure out where I lost control of my weekend and life.  Nothing that I'd planned, except the finish of that last chapter, was accomplished over the three-day weekend.

So here's how it went down:

• Monday (Labor Day) was a non-day.  No blog post even considered, since I was trying to discover where the weekend had gone.
• Tuesday was, well, it was Monday, but it wasn't Monday enough to blog about.
• Wednesday was Tuesday, and there's really nothing to a Tuesday, so I worked on websites due at the end of this (insane) week.
• Thursday (today) is Wednesday, so I'm writing/typing this blog.

The question now becomes:  Is tomorrow really Friday?

Next three-day weekend?  Sometime next year.  Maybe that's a good thing, after all. :)

I could easily escape to a hotel for a weekend and do absolutely nothing. ~  David Boreanaz

Refilling the Well

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

Whether we write or have a day job or are busy raising a family, we all need to take step back once in a while and give ourselves the gift of doing nothing.

Before going any further with this, let me state that "doing nothing" isn't necessarily what it sounds like.  There's a whole range of possibilities and each of us should take the time, now and then, to explore some of them.

For the past six months, I feel like I've been going non-stop.  That could be because I have, in a way.  The grandkids, who had been staying at home with their dad who'd lost his job several months before, returned only two weeks after I'd set deadlines for two new books.  I'd become accustomed to not having them around, except to pick them up from school and take them to their home.  I'd forgotten how crazy life can be with them around.  My schedule and goals took a beating, and it's been crazy, but somehow I've managed to stay on course...or close, anyway.

The time of meeting deadlines will ease soon.  I'm wrapping up the last of what's needed on A NANNY FOR THE COWBOY, out in March next year, and hope to have the last chapter of DESIGNS ON THE COWBOY, June 2013, written well before the upcoming holiday weekend is over.  That will ease the pressure, and we all know how important that is.

While I admire those who are like the Energizer Bunny and never seem to run out of steam, I have a deep, dark suspicion that what we see isn't what's really happening. Why?  Because everyone needs some time to refill the well.

I'd never heard that term before, until I heard Kathie DeNosky use it back in the late 90's, when we were both struggling to sell our first books.  Kathie had been at the writing game a few years longer than I had, so she became my guide in everything writing related.  She taught me about the need to stop the insanity and refill the well that empties without us noticing when we have our nose to the grindstone.  (How's that for mixed metaphors?)  I do have to say that she didn't have to explain what "refilling the well" meant.  I got the meaning immediately.  It was the "how" that had me stumped.

Reading has always been an integral part of my life, but once I began writing, the reading time began to shrink, little by little.  Now just reading a handful of books a year is difficult.  There are those deadlines and all the other things in life that need attending to.  I envy writers who have the time to read the work of others, while moving forward with their own writing career.  I wish I could do the same.

Because I can't pick up a book every week or two and devote time to immersing myself in the worlds of other writers, I have to remind myself that it's important to take a break, no matter how short, and do some reading.  Time for that break is coming up very soon.  By next week at this time, I hope I'm in the midst of it and enjoying it.  It's time to refill the well.

As that special time grows closer, I've been thinking more about it lately, and I realize that there are other things to enjoy, in addition to reading.  So here's a list I've come up with to try, just for me.

10 Things to Do to Refill the Well

• Find a quiet spot to think or just "be"
• Spend time with friends, both writing and non-writing, especially ones I don't see often
• Sleep or take a nap without interruption
• Go outside and watch the clouds drift by
• Find a place away from the street lights--away from the city--to once again enjoy the beauty of the night sky
• Take a leisurely walk in the park, not for exercise or any reason other than the sheer joy of it
• Go to the park and swing
• Sit by the water and listen to the sounds it makes
• Find a new and unusual shop and explore
• Watch favorite movies for a full day

That's my list. What's yours?

The ultimate in refilling my well:

Well it's not far back to sanity, at least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away and find serenity
Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see.
Believe me. ~ Christopher Cross, "Sailing" Lyrics

My Way or the Highway

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

There are as many ways to write a book as there are writers.

If you think you didn't read that correctly, here it is again:

There are as many ways to write a book as there are writers.

Our paths to publication and beyond are a journey of learning and changing to discover what works best for each of us.  And even when we believe we've found that best, it's possible to be surprised by the something new that works even better.

While I've blogged many times about the benefits of plotting, it isn't an absolute necessity when writing a book.  Many writers are able to sit down and pen a wonderful story without plotting a single bit of it.  Oh, how I sometimes envy them!

But writing is a craft, and there are things in writing that are static because they're expected by readers.  It's best to learn the basics first, then add the frills and extras later.  Each of the following has some wiggle room, so do some studying and find out what works best for you.

A novel needs:

1. A beginning, middle, and end
2. Characters (more than one makes it more interesting)
3. Plot...as in what the story is about
4. Setting
5. Conflict

How a story is created and written is where we each go our different way.  Your "how" will be different than mine or Stephen King's or Nora Roberts' or Dan Brown's or the guy down the block or...  You get the picture. :)  But no matter "how" we do it---from beginning to end, end to beginning, from the middle out, or a scene here, then another there---in the end we have a story.  

Learning what way works best for each individual can be ongoing.  When I hit a snag or something isn't working as well as it once had (usually in the area of plotting or characterization), I often try something new and different that someone has suggested.  No matter how small or where it came from, it can make a difference.

When I first began writing (as an adult), I did it because I enjoyed creating a world and characters, especially characters I could manipulate!  Ah, the power of control!  But when the time came that I decided I just might want to try to have a book published, things changed.  I realized I couldn't just sit down and ramble, while my characters were off in one direction, then another.  I started researching the writing process.  While I realized that somehow I knew many of the basics, probably from inhaling so many books, there were--and still are--other things that need to be learned other than grammar, sentence structure, and even plot.

Gathering and learning new information is exciting.  There are thousands of ways and places to find writing basics and beyond.  Many of those are online, and an abundance of them are free.  Each will view a topic in a different manner.  If the first one you read or try doesn't suit, move on to the next, and keep moving until you find an "aha" that you feel will fit you and what you need.

Those who have been writing for a while often share what they've learned.  That's what's nice about groups such as Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Mystery Writers of America...  Those are only the tip of the iceberg, and many of them have local chapters.  There are also local groups that are not associated with national or international groups.  Being a part of a group can be a huge benefit in a career that can be pretty lonely at times.  We've all been there at the beginning, and most people are more than happy to answer questions and help.

No one has a magic wand.  Nothing that's worth it is easy. Writing, like Life, is a constant learning adventure.    Enjoy the journey!  And do it your way.

"It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous." - Peter Benchley

The Power of Turning Points

WRITING WEDNESDAYS

Recently I blogged about how to cure sagging middles (the writing kind!) by using main turning points.  From experience, I know that the words "turning points" can strike fear in the heart of many writers.  I've been there.  I overcame the fear.  And I'm going to share how anyone can, too.

The first thing to learning how to use a turning point is to understand what it is.  Simply put, a turning point is a place/point in a story (often an event) where the plot takes a new (sometimes unexpected) direction.  

Besides the main turning point that usually occurs in the middle of the story, there are others, and they are just as important in keeping the story moving along and interesting to the reader as the main turning point is.

Back in July, I blogged about Growing the Story.  That blog post included the 8 Plot Points of a story and the storyboard I use to keep me on track during pre-writing (plotting or just thinking ahead) and writing.  Let's take another look.

1. Opening
2. Inciting Incident
3. Turning Points (1 or 2)
4. Main Turning Point
5. Black Moment
6. Sacrifice
7. Resolution
8. HEA

In a romance, a turning point will be something that happens (external) that brings about a new emotional (internal) direction.  Sometimes it's something that will push the hero and heroine together, when one or neither wants it to happen.

FAMILY BY DESIGN

Christmas is looking bleak for Becca Tyler and her three young children. Money is tight for this single mom, and the house where they live has been sold to a new owner, meaning they must move. Throw in an encounter with the guy Becca heartlessly dumped in high school, and not only Christmas but life seems to be handing out lemons.

First Turning Point
 Nick, the new owner and the guy Becca dumped in high school, learns he's the cause of her predicament and offers her a job.

Why?  Nick's secretary quits, and although Nick might be able to ignore that Becca may not have a home to live in, her three children make the difference.  They'll be working together on a daily basis, not exactly what a man wants to do with the woman who spurned him in the past.


THE MAVERICK'S REWARD

It's been almost twenty years since Tucker O'Brien left the Rocking O Ranch at the age of fifteen, and the only reason he's returned, physically and emotionally scarred, is to get to know the son he never knew he had. But once Shawn graduates from high school, Tucker plans to leave...until he meets Paige Miles, Desperation's new doctor, who forces him to take an honest look at himself and makes him want to risk becoming the man he's always wanted to be.

First Turning Point
Tucker relents and tells Paige he'll do Physical Therapy, but only if she's his therapist.

Why?  Tucker recognizes that he doesn't have a choice about doing the PT, and there's no one close who can oversee it but Paige. They may be seeing each other often because of it, but he's sure she's as much against getting involved in any other way than she is.


Two of the best places to watch for turning points are TV shows and movies.  I can almost set my watch to Criminal Minds.  The main turning point--where information learned makes a big change in who the unsub (unknown subject) might be, and they're off in a new direction of finding him--comes at the half hour, just before the commercial.  There's another turning point near the 3/4 of an hour mark, when they know who the unsub is and they go after him.  They were in a rut during last season when quite often this TP is a rush to a house with their guns drawn and vests on, only to find that the house is empty.  A good reminder to vary your turning points!  Author Elizabeth Sinclair loves the movie The American President and uses it to help teach plotting.  One of these days, I'm going to watch it! ☺

Whether you use television, movies or books, try to watch for those moments when something happens that changes the direction of the story or even changes the way a character sees things in a different way (an AHA! moment).

Using turning points throughout your story will strengthen it, earn the attention of editors, and cause readers to never want to put down the book.

Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. - E. L. Doctorow