Writing Life

October 16, 2006 Uncategorized

I’m thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of the romance community. Made up largely of women, it is for the most part a nurturing environment. Or at least it seems to be. The aversion to frank criticism is so strong that you have to read between the lines to evaluate any precious feedback.

I’ve heard tales of cruel judges’ comments or scathing critiques. But I haven’t experienced them. I’ve participated in three different critique groups with mixed results. I’ve met some amazing and generous women who’ve shared lots of hard won information on how to write.

Hard as it would be to hear my precious prose is purple or boring or simply the wrong tone – I think candid evaluation would be more useful than well-menaing kindness. I’ve read some mind numbingly bad chapters and have usually avoided commenting on them altogether. Raised on the axiom – if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything – I’ve chosen to critique only those who had elements I could praise.

Recently, I served as a judge. One of the comment categories – two things you especially liked about the manuscript illustrates my concern that too much kindness has the opposite effect.

Sample Saturday continued

October 14, 2006 Uncategorized

For those just joining the story the beginning may be found two Saturdays ago . . .

“How well do you know the Reverend?” Derrick asked.

“Reverend Tom? He’s been here for years. Poor man, he’s still considered the new Reverend and constantly compared to his predecessor He’s a little awkward away from his pulpit, but you’ll never find a nicer man.”

A glance showed him the back of Bella’s head, her face turned away from him and toward the passenger window. She hadn’t sounded sarcastic. Nice would not have made his list of adjectives for the Reverend.

After a few seconds, she continued without further prodding. “When he first came he got a cool reception. Nana said if she were too friendly to Reverend Tom, it’d feel disloyal to Reverend Jack. Lots of folks seemed to feel the same way. I felt sorry for him. I know what it’s like being the newcomer. I tried to be extra nice helping out with Sunday school and choir practice.”

“You sing?” He wasn’t touching the Sunday school line.

“Not well.” Bella laughed and he didn’t believe her. Her laughter was music.

“I play the organ. Not as well as Mildred, the organist today. But Mildred takes care of her mother and choir practice is Thursday evenings, it’s hard for her to get away. . .”

Bella babbled on. Nervous.

Derrick added up the pieces – the notes, her tension, the furtive figure behind the church. He didn’t like where this was going. His sweet Sunday school teacher, who looked like an advertisement for sin, had a stalker.

Derrick was nothing like the player she’d imagined. He managed to boost her into the pickup without making her feel clumsy or heavy. He hadn’t panted, patted or pinched. He actually met her eyes when they talked. He even listened to what she said, which had been way too much. The notes had spooked her, especially the second one. When she started talking to Derrick all her worries tumbled out. She’d been talking the poor man’s ears right off. He must think she was a walking trouble magnet.

While he drove the old truck with quiet efficiency, Bella sought for a safe topic of conversation. A good measure of her distress was how long it took her to hit one – work. Jobs were always good. Everyone liked to talk about what he did for a living.

“Merci told me that you’re in construction?”

“Uh huh.”

Great, now he’d regressed to monosyllables. He definitely thought she was trouble and was trying to distance himself. What had possessed her to babble on about the notes?

Bella tried to re-track the conversation.

“What kind of construction? Offices, houses?” She coaxed, trying for charming interest.

“Different kinds, some renovation.”

“Renovations? I’ve just signed a lease on old crumbling wreck of a shop on First Avenue. Restoration is what it needs. Is that the kind of thing your company does?”

“Yeah. About those notes –”

“Forget about the notes. A religious nut, like you said. I overreacted. I do that. A lot. I babble on when I’m nervous too.” She tugged on a chagrined smile.

“The notes made you nervous?”

“No, I didn’t mean –”

“I make you nervous?”

“No. Of course not.” She answered too fast to be convincing. Peeking at him from under her lashes. She checked to see if he bought it.

He was brooding, about her notes. Something deep inside warmed. She dropped subtlety, gazing at him openly. Her mouth curved into an involuntary smile. Derrick was smart and caring and sexy. He was a dangerous man.

She had no business noticing how sexy he was. He wasn’t for her.

But if she kept her head on straight, where was the harm on forgetting her troubles and enjoying his company for a few hours?

Bella made a third effort to turn the conversation back to safe subjects.

“I found a wonderful space for the shop, perfect actually. The only problem is layers of crud covering my dream store.”

“The first note, the virtuous woman thing – that was this past Monday?”

She nodded, and then realized he couldn’t see the gesture.

“Yes.” Darn, he wasn’t letting this go.

Truth was, he did make her nervous, or maybe it was that he made her realize how unsure she was about herself. A restless, itchy feeling infiltrated her body. Every moment spent with him worsened her malady.

He should scare her. He was large, aggressive, bristling with maleness. Yet, something in him pulled at her core whispering insane promises of pleasure and safety.

Buzzless

October 12, 2006 Uncategorized

It is surely obvious to all regular readers I’m buried under lecture notes, an unruly WIP and a deep deep deep editing project. In short – no buzz. No market report. No clue.

I’ll be back on Saturday with another installment.

Writing Craft – Pacing

October 11, 2006 Uncategorized

Story Essentials – Continued

Recapping as we work our way down the romance editor’s wish list, so far we have:

An opening hook
An appealing, human heroine
A hero to fall in love with. He must be human, appealing and honorable
An original story line.
Dialogue that sings
Emotional roll coaster (highs and lows)
Sensuality that steams up the windows

A pace that keeps the reader hooked

Pacing is what keeps your reader turning pages. Pacing is why you don’t start your book with your heroine waking up and end your chapters with her drifting off to sleep. The ticking clock on a hidden bomb is an illustration of fast pacing. Watch any action movie you’ll see fast pacing in action.

There are subtler forms of tension. I’m reading a historical romance that is difficult to set down. There are no timers on explosives around – the nearest thing to time pressure is six months away. Ho hum? Hardly. The Hero has yet to realize the heroine is the one he’s about to marry the wrong woman and he must impregnate said wrong woman as fast as possible so there’s no doubt as to her condition prior to the six month deadline.

Though this is a romance with the happy ending guaranteed this is a previously unread author. Is her idea of happy ending acceptable? The story opened with hero in bed with married woman, definitely not the heroine. Can this author be trusted?

The unanswered question, the doubt raised that’s tension too. That pulls the reader forward for one more page long after she should be asleep. What happens next? Will this couple fall in love? Will they overcome the obstacles to their happiness? You want reminders of your core conflict on every page, you want to turn up the tension and then you want to release it gradually until there’s nothing left except a sigh of satisfaction.

Reading report – A Reason To Live

October 10, 2006 Uncategorized

Three stars (out of five) Maureen McKade has penned a surprising historical. IMHO The external problems are more compelling than the romance. This is very much the heroine’s story, though the hero is fully realized and the secondary characters handled deftly. The period is post Civil War.

Writing Life

Uncategorized

One of the attractions of writing as a career was the perpetual student status I knew would be attached to the journey. This fall I may have overdone it signing up for a total of five classes. Three down and two to go. Pant, pant. Note to self – one class a month is plenty.

Sample Saturday

October 7, 2006 Uncategorized

For those just joining the story the beginning can be read in last Saturday’s post . . .

He took his time, walking around the back of the truck and double-checking the luggage was still there. He got out bungee cords and secured the cases. Fishing for his keys, his fingers brushed the folded note.

Simple curiosity made him open it. Man is the head of the woman. Only man is the image and glory of God.

Weird. She didn’t look like the kind of woman who clutched bible verses. But what did he know? She was a Sunday school teacher.

Derrick climbed into the truck. “Here’s your note.”

The hand Bella extended trembled.

“It’s yours, right?”

“I don’t know.” Bella cupped her elbow as if arm needed extra support for the task.

“Come again?”

“I guess it’s mine. I mean – I think it was meant for me. The note was stuck in my bouquet.”
She paused, doing a small shudder shimmy thing that damn near made him forget the question.

“The other one, the first note, was on my windshield at work. That has to mean they’re for me. Doesn’t it? Silly question.” Bella laughed unconvincingly. “Of course, the notes are meant for me.”

Her whisky colored eyes clouded with doubts and fears making him want to puff up and play champion to her maiden in distress.

Nora played these kinds of games and he hated them. Somehow, he didn’t think Bella was pretending and that made all the difference.

“What did the other one say?”

“Who can find a virtuous woman?” Bella gave a half-sob laugh. “I am being silly. I keep telling myself there’s no harm in words –” She shook her head staring at the paper in her open hand. “How could someone put a note in my bouquet? Why would they want to?”

“A disappointed boyfriend?”

A peal of rich, full, genuine laughter bubbled. “No, I don’t think so.”

“A co-worker, then?”

“Definitely not.”

“A religious nut.”

“You’re probably right.” She agreed with a cheerful smile. The clouds didn’t leave her pretty eyes. “Shouldn’t we get going?”

“Yeah.” He pushed the key in the ignition. Glancing at her as he automatically checked behind them.

She opened her purse, dropping in the note and pulling a hankie. She used it to dab at her eyes. The hankie went back. Out came a fancy little mirror. Bella studied her face with a small furrow between her brows.

“Darn, the lash line is smudged.”

He had no idea what that meant, but it didn’t sound good.

Licking her ring finger, she patted delicately under her eyes until she was satisfied with the effect. The mirror disappeared back inside the small sparkly purse. Everything she did was fresh, feminine, fascinating.

A blur of motion snagged his attention. A large man, dressed in camouflage, disappeared into the woods behind the church. The hairs on Derrick’s nape jumped to code yellow, changing the level of threat.

The sound of the truck rumbling to life jerked his head.

Lord protect me!

Instantly, calm settled like an invisible cloak over his shoulders. He had nothing to fear. He was God’s anointed servant carrying the word to those who needed it. And the word was salvation and life everlasting.

The Almighty’s mercy did not exonerate his servants from diligence in the performance of their duties. He halted, rotating his torso enough to scan the parking lot. The pickup loitered, its occupants shrunk to silhouettes.

He narrowed his eyes marginally reassured by the space between them.

His angel’s face turned toward the church.

Gratifying warmth spread through his chest. He prayed for strength to resist temptation of the flesh and for perfect obedience to God’s will.

The sinner scanned the woods. For a second the sinner seemed to look straight at him. The sinner’s gaze held power.

He prayed for more strength and courage to carry out the Almighty’s mission. The sinner’s gaze passed over him. Proof that his prayers were heard and answered.

He hung his head in humility. How could he doubt the will of his lord? Had not God led him to this destiny by a hundred acts, which left no room for doubt? Had not God spared his life, bringing him back from death, so that he could be the Almighty’s arm of perfect vengeance? Had not God handpicked him for this mission?

“You are safe my son.” The words formed in his head in the rich reverberating voice he knew as God.

He tilted his head toward the heavens his arms spread waiting for God’s will to be shown to him. His whole body tingled with health and power. His penis engorged.

“This too is my will. Soon you will be rewarded for your service with pleasure beyond your dreams. For now spill your seed on the ground my son and know that every part of you is blessed and sacred.”

The anointed servant followed God’s commandment. He stroked himself lovingly. As always, God filled him with the vision. His Angel.

“How well do you know the Reverend?” Derrick asked.

“Reverend Tom? He’s been here for years. Poor man, he’s still considered the new Reverend and constantly compared to his predecessor He’s a little awkward away from his pulpit, but you’ll never find a nicer man.”

A glance showed him the back of Bella’s head, her face turned away from him and toward the passenger window. She hadn’t sounded sarcastic. Nice would not have made his list of adjectives for the Reverend.

After a few seconds, she continued without further prodding. “When he first came he got a cool reception. Nana said if she were too friendly to Reverend Tom, it’d feel disloyal to Reverend Jack. Lots of folks seemed to feel the same way. I felt sorry for him. I know what it’s like being the newcomer. I tried to be extra nice helping out with Sunday school and choir practice.”

“You sing?” He wasn’t touching the Sunday school line.

“Not well.” Bella laughed and he didn’t believe her. Her laughter was music.

“I play the organ. Not as well as Mildred, the organist today. But Mildred takes care of her mother and choir practice is Thursday evenings, it’s hard for her to get away. . .”

Bella babbled on. Nervous.

Derrick added up the pieces – the notes, her tension, the furtive figure behind the church. He didn’t like where this was going. His sweet Sunday school teacher, who looked like an advertisement for sin, had a stalker.

Buzz and Market Trends

Uncategorized

I’m giving up on Market Trends and Buzz. Industry gossip is still seductive, but more essential is learning craft and working on polishing my own good story.

Back tomorrow with the latest installment.

Writing Craft

October 4, 2006 Uncategorized

Story Essentials – Continued

Recapping as we work our way down the romance editor’s wish list, so far we have:

• An opening hook
• An appealing, human heroine
• A hero to fall in love with. He must be human, appealing and honorable
• An original story line.
• Dialogue that sings
• Emotional roll coaster (highs and lows)
• Sensuality that steams up the windows

All romances need sexual tension. When an editor talks about sensuality that steams up the windows, she wants sexual tension. Tension is another form of conflict. The implied question of will they or wont they? Is there is every romance. Will they fall in love? Will they become intimate? Will they find away to resolves their issues?

For an in depth look at sensuality and what drives sexual tension, take a look at The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Writing Erotic Romance by Alison Kent she has devoted chapter sixteen to writing sexual tension. Quoting from the least you need to know section:

• Conversation provides many opportunities for sexual tension, including innuendo, banter and double entendres.
• While sexuality is a more physical condition, balancing it with sensuality helps increase the story’s eroticism.
• Characters can experience sexual tension both mentally and physically, and their body language is a good indication of their feelings.
• Using the five senses will bring your love scenes to life and add an evocative realism to your prose.
• Chemistry between two people is conveyed through their sexual, emotional and intellectual attraction.

Reading report

October 3, 2006 Uncategorized

Multiple reads again this week

Key Witness by J.F. Freedman

Two star review – A legal thriller by a non-lawyer and it shows. Note to self: do you really want to make the murder trial scene the climax? Mr. Freedman pens a tome with an astounding number of coincidences and a cast of unsympathetic characters. He sells millions of copies of each release – my humble opinion being only one nay sayer in a sea of admirers. Decide for yourself.

Writing The Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass

Five Star review – Probably over my head, but Maass does his best to keep things understandable with examples from published authors and very short chapters. I’d read lots of recommendations of this book before I bought one. Would it have helped me sooner? An irrelevant question, I have a copy now. The trick is putting all that excellent advice into practice. Lots of great advice. No guarantees of success.

Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

Five start review – Like lots of fans I eagerly await the next Tess Gerritsen release. The combination of Maura and Jane is particularly satisfactory and the latest issue in the series is both rich and chilling. Did Tess read Maass book? I have no idea, but she embeds many of his suggestions – like putting tension on every page. For those new to the series, I recommend starting at the beginning with The Surgeon.