Eye Candy
As I face daunting revisions, I find myself a little more Eeyore-ish than usual. Instead of droning on, as is my first inclination, I'm going to post something we can all enjoy...
Emerging From Deep In The Woods
The redwoods to be exact.
I went to a scrapbooking retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains this weekend.
Wow. Great setting, great food, great people. No kids, no husbands, no troubles. Does it get better?
Probably, but I'd rather not hear about things I can't afford, like Bermuda or Jamaica. Thanks anyway.
You're not going to believe it, but not only didn't I write, I didn't even bring my computer. No, that's not a typo. No computer. Okay, okay, I have to admit, I got that tweaky pinch in my stomach when I walked out without it--no email, no Internet, no IM, no brainstorming on my current WIP or the revisions I have to do. But I've been to one of these weekends before, and I also knew there would be no time.
After I got over the separation anxiety, I was okay. The creativity involved in scrapbooking, the warm fuzzies I get from reliving those sweet memories, are like a natural upper. As far as how it benefits my writing, I sure get to see a lot of quirky personalities. And the setting was rich with sensory details. Awesome location for a suspense mystery. Actually reminded me of Elisabeth's Science of Silence setting.
It was healthy for me to force myself out of my writing mind. And I don't do it unless I'm forced--by myself or by outside influences. It slipped back in now and then. We took a hike through the woods on the camp's property (isolated property) and my friends and I started talking about scary movies and creepy stuff, which segued into possibilities for my books -- like bodies found spiked to redwood trees in the desolate wilderness. I told them I should really sell something before I start plotting new books. But I tucked it away for later.
What kind of hobbies do you love? Do you make room for them on a regular basis or does life get in the way? What do you think your hobbies add to your everyday life? Your writing life?
Read more...
Thursday Thirteen
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Thirteen Of My Favorite Comfort Foods 1. Oatmeal (the real, thick, slow-cooked, Irish Cut stuff) What are some of your favorite comfort foods? |
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Back To The Drawing Board
I tried to research this saying to see where it came from...but after 15 minutes of searching, I figured it's not that important. We all know what it means...starting over, reworking.
That's where I'm at with Safe In Enemy Arms.
I got the crit back on Safe from my agent last week and I've been mulling it over. I've found, after years and years of receiving crits, you really have to do that. Not all of the comments make immediate sense. Some seem downright ludicrous. Many may make you mutter, "They don't know what they're talking about."
No doubt about it, critisism is tough to take. Especially on something you've put so much time and effort and parts of yourself into.
But I've also found, after years and years of receiving crits, that every comment is valuable.
There are three kinds of comments:
- 1... Those that make immediate sense. You slap a palm to your forehead and say, "Jeez. What was I thinking? I really need to fix that. Thank God for crit partners." (or agents, or editors, or whoever read you work and found the glaring problem.
- 2... Those that make you quirk your head and say, "I don't get it." or "Where did that come from."
- 3... Those that make you shake your head and say, "She really doesn't get it. If I change that, I have to change the whole theme of the book, or completely redraw characters, or... " You get the idea.
We all wish the first type of comment were the only ones we got, because those are typically easy to fix--that is if you've executed your plot, characterization, theme, etc. adequately to begin with. A twist here, a tweak there, wha-la. Repair complete.
The second type take a little more consideration, a reread of the work, a twist of perspective while viewing that work. These comments are very valuable. They show us that what we wrote didn't come off as we'd planned, which means we need to go back and clarify, reword, substantiate, layer and/or deepen the elements surrounding that portion of our story.
And even the third type are valuable. Even if, after thorough consideration, you decide that a particular comment doesn't fit your work or your voice or your story, that the critiquer truly didn't get it, and set that comment aside, you've validated your purpose. You've analyzed and found your original direction exactly what you intended.
After musing over my agent's comments on the manuscript, I twirled ideas and remedies around in my head a few days. I've reread her comments at least 4 times and every time I read them, the purpose of each becomes clearer, and I marvel at her ability to see so deeply into the work.
For a manuscript I thought was really ready, she's shown me ways to clarify and deepen the story, the plot and the characters.
I have a long way to go. These revisions will be another extensive piece of work. But as long the story is more complete, tighter and richer, its worth every minute. And even if it doesn't sell after I've completed the revisions, I've taken another step toward bettering my craft, understanding my characters, developing story structure.
And that's what it's all about (I try to remind myself often)--growing, learning, enjoying the journey.
What do you think--about critiques, about revisions, about the power of the writing journey?
Read more...
Cranky
I'm a bit cranky.
Seems my writing has been shoved down on my priority list for the last 6 weeks.
March my husband was gone all but 4 or 5 days, and I was swamped with everything life throws at you on a daily basis. April has been filled with good things -- but stressful non-the-less. Trips, events, visitors. And now I'm so behind in everyday life (laundry, shopping, cleaning, bills, errands, gardening--not to mention that dreaded day job), that I still can't just dive right back into writing.
I've discovered over the last week or so, the inability to devote an hour or two of my day (minimum) to my stories, my characters, my writing over the last couple months has really gnawed at my patience level. I'm antsy to get back to it.
I've heard many other writers talk about how they get tweaked when they don't write. Are you that way? What happens to you when you don't write? How long does it take before you hit that irritation level?
Food For Thought
Here are a couple quotes that stood out for me in those articles I mentioned...quotes that made me stop, reread and...think:
The values and concepts embraced by Romance cross over gender or cultural barriers. They include: the transcendence of conflict through unity; the strengths of honor, courage, and determination; the value of justice and mercy; the soul union of female and male, and above all the immeasurable value of Love.
A clear distinction between power and empowerment is made by the archetypal heroines of romance. While power in its most masculine and aggressive context seeks betterment over others, the feminine principle of empowerment is about equality of value, a balance of power. Perhaps this is why the myths of romance speak so strongly to generations of women who have lived the battle for equality.
Do those quotes make you stop and think? Any others that have that you can share with us?
Goddesses of Love
I can tell I'm close to taking that next step in my writing, going to that next level, when I get restless.
The restlessness comes in the form of discontent with my hero or my heroine or my story structure or my plot or the shallowness of my prose. Something's not right--not deep enough, not complex enough, not unique enough. I want to intensify the work, but don't know how, can't think of something fresh or new or twisted enough to express this need to take my work to a new height.
I spoke in a comment on Edie’s blog (topic: Learning The Craft) about seeking out craft books/articles/blogs that speak to writers on an advanced level, how hearing the same concept in a new voice or from a fresh perspective can shed light on a topic in a way that helps you see it more clearly, understand it more completely.
This is a huge challenge for me, because my brain doesn’t ordinarily function at this depth. I’m a pretty average Joe—average intelligence, average all-American life experience, average middle or upper-middle-class work experience, average family (both immediate and extended).
The restlessness comes in the form of discontent with my hero or my heroine or my story structure or my plot or the shallowness of my prose. Something's not right--not deep enough, not complex enough, not unique enough. I want to intensify the work, but don't know how, can't think of something fresh or new or twisted enough to express this need to take my work to a new height.
I spoke in a comment on Edie’s blog (topic: Learning The Craft) about seeking out craft books/articles/blogs that speak to writers on an advanced level, how hearing the same concept in a new voice or from a fresh perspective can shed light on a topic in a way that helps you see it more clearly, understand it more completely.
This is a huge challenge for me, because my brain doesn’t ordinarily function at this depth. I’m a pretty average Joe—average intelligence, average all-American life experience, average middle or upper-middle-class work experience, average family (both immediate and extended).
So, when concepts like those described in The Writer’s Journey by Vogler or The Heroine’s Journey by Murdock start to appeal to me, I know my writing subconscious is stirring.
Here’s an article I ran across along those lines that has me thinking again about going deeper with character and plot than simply character and plot, but evolution and life journeys and archetypes and how all that plays a part in our lives and how it should also play a part in our romance fiction.
Goddesses of Love: How the Romance Genre Has Embraced Feminine Myths and Archetypes, Part 1
Goddesses of Love: How the Romance Genre Has Embraced Feminine Myths and Archetypes, Part 2
Is this phenomenon a foreign concept to you or do you also get an inkling of when it’s time to step up your writing? How do you know? What do you do?
Wrong Way--Do Not Enter
Recently, both my CP's, Linda and Elisabeth, have posted about dreams on their personal blogs.
I don't typically remember my dreams, although I do tend to have quite a few deja vu moments, which I attribute to having dreamt of similar situations or circumstances.
This morning on my way to work, I passed a freeway offramp, and the sign--Wrong Way, Do Not Enter--stoked a memory of a dream the previous night. In my dream, I'd turned onto the offramp and faced several cars coming straight for me.
It wasn't particularly scary, more like, "oops" and I turned around and straightened myself out, but when I saw the sign today and remembered the dream, I wondered if it might have something to do with my writing career, which has been weighing heavily on my mind lately.
I spoke with my agent a few days ago and we'd discussed a couple rough plans for subbing Hiding to more houses, revisions and subbing plans for Safe. Her ideas were good, and I felt pretty settled when I got off the phone, reassured of her confidence in my writing.
Still, I've been writing for five years now, and the uneasy feeling of subbing and waiting, changing, subbing and waiting again has been gnawing at me. I've had more than a few what-in-the-hell-am-I-doing moments, and I can't help but wonder if that's where this dream stemmed from.
Do your dreams ever relate to your writing? Have any lately you want to share?
Who's Your Dream Agent/Editor?
I'm curious. I was reading the agents and editors who offered up lunch and coffee and tea and reads and crits for Brenda Novak's annual diabetes auction and thought...gee, so many great names...how to choose? (That is if I HAD money to bid, which I don't.)
Who is your dream agent/editor? Have you or would you bid for a read or a meeting? How much?
Whoo-hoo, New Reads!
Just got my books for the Daphne published contest:
- Brenda Novak's Dead Silence.
- Michelle Perry's In Enemy Hands.
(Funny b/c I have a manuscript titled Safe In Enemy Arms.) - Beth Cornelison's Chasing a Dream.
I've got some good reading coming my way! :-)
Read more...New Addition To The Family
No, not a baby (bite your tongue!) -- at least not a human baby. And nothing as ordinary as a dog or a cat or even a hampster.
We have a new lamb.
Never would I have believed I'd have spent an entire Saturday at a sheep auction, or found myself at the local feed store buying lamb food -- and not just any lamb grain, show lamb grain. And alfapha hay and a halter and muck boots and buckets and...
My oldest is doing FFA this year. I'm a child of the suburbs. The closest I got to farm animals were English riding lessons at a high-end ranch near our home.
I have quite a few reservations about this whole deal. And they only got worse when we got the little guy back to the school farm and he was the only one there. He cries like a new puppy. He also instantly bonded with my daughter. Within an hour, every time she left his pen, he starting crying.Lambs are pretty darn cute. Why not a pig? I seriously doubt I'd have reservations about selling a pig at the county fair this summer.
Ugh. This will be an experience for all of us.
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