It’s so hot here that I’m working in the airconditioned house and leaving the roses to cavort untended until the sun lowers. Since it’s too scorching to venture out to take more pictures, I’ll make do with shots I snapped earlier this month. This one is of the wisteria and a favorite tree peony. Both are sweetly fragrant.
A closer look at the tree peony blossoms.
Writing Fantasy
Here’s how I’d like writing fiction to be–
As easy as everyone who doesn’t do it thinks it is
As lucrative as everyone who doesn’t do it thinks it is
While I’m on the subject, I want to add to my wish list.
Every editor would have reasonable workloads and endless patience. These paragons would promptly review every submission, responding within a day or two–said response taking the form of an offer to contract the story. If the editors were unable to buy the manuscript, then they would respond, just as quickly, with kind, insightful, and detailed reasons for their decision to decline the opportunity.
Perhaps, I should include home visits by eager editors and agents desperate to acquire exciting manuscripts–no, my imagination isn’t quite that good.
In real life writing is nothing like the fantasy, more’s the pity.
Like aspiring sports superstars, wannabe pop idols, and the hopeful future movie stars there are thousand and thousands of would be writers, dreaming of writing best sellers or critically acclaimed poetry or enchanting fantasy or riveting thrillers or thrilling romances.
Most are doomed to failure. Most never make that necessary first step of actually writing the whole book–let alone submitting it. It takes courage, determination, talent, and hard work just to get a story written, polished, and sent off to an acquiring editor or agent. It takes more courage, patience, and dogged persistence to keep writing.
Real world editors are swamped by submissions. They have many other tasks (like editing) besides reviewing submissions. When they do have a chance to deal with incoming manuscripts, they look at those by authors they’ve already purchased from before tackling the slush pile.
What makes an editor interested in a story? Here’s the beginning of one tasteful editor’s simple wish list.
Professional submissions–business focused correspondence, work in the format they prefer, and every part of the package clean (no spelling or grammar issues)
Suitable–a manuscript that fits within the scope of their publisher’s guidelines
Entertaining–a story that shines, a strong voice, a fresh twist
Got all that going on? Then what are you waiting for?
Since this is a vitual garden experience, I’m posting last summer’s snapshot of Jackmanii, not the showiest of clematis, but a handsome, reliable performer, which blooms July to September adding a nice contrast to rosa Don Juan as well as Buff beauty. I’m always torn between the greedy desire for new flora and the pleasure of well-love combinations. Jackmanii has held three prime places in the garden for more than a decade.
June really is a grand time in the garden–here’s a favorite purple haze corner Aliums, of course, some toadflax (more volunteers) rising lavendar, backed by the almost purple bronze fennel.
I’ll tell you a secret, in real life I’m shy. I’ve been on garden tours and I found them exhausting. There have been no real life garden invasions in several years–but this virtual garden sharing is lovely.
Dangerous Rescue is on the New Concepts Publishing coming soon page!
Yes, I do know soon is a relative term. But, there might be another dangerous book out this year. Even if it’s next year, I’m still thrilled with each step closer to release.
I’ve still got my fingers crossed that I’ll get to announce another contract soon.
I am writing, but I keep removing as many words as I add. Some of them were good words too. The word meter is going to stay stuck for a week. And then it may have to move backwards.
One more rose, Brother Cadfael, one of the distinguished David Austin roses.
As much as I love the serenity of white flowers (or near white) I have can’t resist the ultra-lavish pinks, murky near blacks, complex bronze–you see the problem.
This time of year, modest daisies, all volunteers fill the frontyard border with cheery blooms.
June belongs to the roses, reminding me why I have so many of these pampered prima donas. This one is Buff Beauty, a hybrid musk on her own roots. She’s roughly nine feet high and darn near as wide. This view is from the tiny deck just off my office. Winding through the fragrant rose blooms is the handsome clematis Jackmanii.
Underneath Buff Beauty is a shady corner populated with astrantia major, “Shaggy” along with some volunteer centaureas, one of the dryopertis ferns , a forget-me-not or two, and some Lady’s Mantle, achilles molis. Mother Nature does a lot of gardening around here. But, I get credit for recognizing her genius and fostering the plantings.
I was going to entertain you with a whine about writing. However, I changed my mind. Last week, I ventured out into the big world and attended a reader’s circle. After all readers are the end user for a writer’s work. Aside from any practical considerations, reading is one of my favorite things.
In this case, the phrase, reader’s circle refers to a small band of women, who get together once a month to discuss the books they’ve read recently. I’m familiar with the concept. But, this was my first chance to participate.
I’m so glad I went. This club has no reading assignments, which may be part of what makes it so lively. Titles discussed with humor, wit, and charm included:
Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment
The Celestine Prophecies
Nerds Like It Hot
Circle of Gold
Twilight
The Lizards Bite
The Other Boleyn Girl
The Number One Ladies Detective Agency
The Whole Truth
Theodore Roosevelt: A Life
Travels
There were others. Alas, I was too enthralled to take notes. Next month I want to be prepared to participate. To do so I need to keep track of what I read–not a big problem. I also need to be able to discuss the titles read–a much bigger deal.
Whether or not I like a particular book is perfectly clear–to me. However, I seldom bother with analyzing why. Let alone explaining it to someone else.
I’m reading and enjoying Sweet Surrender. But, when I attempt to analyze why I like this title or even this author, I fall back on very vague language. The author’s voice appeals to me. The fantasy entertains me. The characters are authentic and familiar. The story world is believable and yet far enough from my daily life to enchant. All true, but in all fairness to my fellow readers not enough content for anyone to make an informed decision about whether or not to shell out money for their own copy.
Here’s my reading for entertainment bottom-line requirements. The story must be well written and professionally edited. By this, I mean a minimum of mechanical errors, no glaring mistakes of fact, a coherent plot, believable motivation for characters actions, natural dialogue, and no ‘miracle’ solutions to conflicts. Beyond those minimal standards, I’m instantly plunged into the mushy area of personal taste.
For example, I love regency period romance. Georgette Heyer rates a whole shelf of keepers in my personal library. Carla Kelly’s romances always thrill me. As do Loretta Chase’s and a long list of other notable authors. On the other end of the spectrum, Lisa Kleypas, who writes best selling and Rita award winning regencies, fails to capture my fancy. Perhaps, I picked the wrong titles to try and she improved. Since I’ve tried her twice with the same dismal results, it is highly unlikely I’ll give her work a third try. There was nothing wrong with her writing or the editing, indeed she meets all the minimal requirements. Yet, her story choices yank me out of the special world of fiction and make my willing suspension of disbelief impossible.
Recently, I read a negative review of Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady. The story absolutely riveted me. As it did the vast majority of readers and reviewers. Difficult as it is for me to believe, there was at least one intelligent reader who wasn’t seduced by her prose.
The trouble, for the one negative reviewer I ran across, was the same thing that turned me off Ms. Kleypas’s books– story choices made the willing suspension of disbelief impossible for that critic. In this instance, I don’t agree with the reader’s opinion. However, I recognize it is a matter of individual perception.
So here is my new challenge, write a brief review that summarizes the core story– without spoilers and either endorse with specific reasons why or explain why the book in question failed to please this reader. Then repeat for each title read until the next meeting. Yikes! What was I thinking?
Every morning around seven, I pour my first cup of coffee and check on the hummingbird crew.
Normally they work the swing shift, clocking in a little before seven in evening. Then they settle into work over the red garden.
Occasionally, a quality control inspector buzzes the window boxes mid-day. But, he’s not a regular.
This year for the first time, a lone male has shown up every morning for weeks.
This guy is as regular as if he were punching a time clock. He buzzes in and gets right down to business, servicing every blossom on the perennial fuchsia. To give you an idea of the scope of his work–the bit of solid grey to the right of the shrub is a six-foot cedar fence.
So far today, I’ve resurrected one character from the dead and killed off another.
I Thought about updating the word meter because, I’ve added a few paragraphs here and there and improved lots of the others. But then, I decided to print it out and have a read through before I do any more improving. There’s lots of revision still to go on the present set of words and no point in polishing what may be cut.
All of this makes me aware of my own writing process. Polishing as I write is second nature. This polishing is not to be confused with the final polishing that makes it ready for an editor’s eyes. Rather a more a nudging closer to the story vision that exists in my head. All the while the tale remains very much a first draft.
After the original shaping of the story concept into a plots that holds together, which goes very slow–a week or two. Then the words pour fourth, until the last act when new insights lead to revising amid the flow–a decision that slows the writing back to creeping. All told, Sam’s story is going to keep me busy all summer.
Then, I’m thinking back to the pirates.
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One dangerous warrior woman plus two rogue demon males equals a love to threaten an empire. 
Getting paid to watch Eduardo is Desiree’s dream assignment, but when he reaches out to her, crossing the line, everything changes.
Deep in her secret heart, she lusts for a sexy pirate who’d be her master and commander in the bedroom. But, this man may be too dangerous
She finds paradise in the arms of twin brothers, but their law demands she chose one warrior to mate and one to die. 
One woman, two men, three wounded hearts--though already mated their love is still forbidden.
A reluctant reporter and a lone wolf undercover cop work to catch an extortionist, finding love requires the most dangerous risk of all. 
Street-smart cop plays princess to catch deadly terrorists. Now,the only man she trusts is the one she can't resist.
Along with the arrival of Sam’s nemesis comes Karina, the one woman who can heal his wounded soul. While he worries about endangering her, what he doesn’t know may kill him. Because, the love of his life is his worst nightmare--his enemy’s daughter. 
A lonely woman executive finds passion with a dominant much younger lover, forcing a choice between love and loyalty