Wednesday's Writer's Tip - From First Draft to Finished Novel - Karen Wiesner #MFRWauthor

For the next few weeks, I'll be looking at this book by Karen who is a friend met once and who was the person who started the promo group, Jewels of the Quill. The group ahs not dispanded but for many years this group helped 12 authors promote their stories.

Karen equates working on a story to building a house that is solid and will last for the ages. I look at my way of writing as an artist who paints a picture. The interesting thing is that the systems are basically the same. I found this to be interesting, There may be a slight difference in the method but the results can be the same. Do they work. Not always since every writer has a story that doesn't quite work as well as their other stories. I've seen this with my own writing and sometimes it's not the story one suspects that continues to sell and sell over the years. Is there an answer. Maybe not. Could it be some elements of the process is flawed in one story and is terrific in another.

Layering is the way to make a story work and often a writer after many years doesn't remember how they did this. The process is something that's learned by repetition. So during the next few weeks, we'll be looking at the ways of layering a story from the start of the idea to the end of the process. While writing these little pieces, I always learn something or remember a step that I'd forgotten or not used to the greatest potential. So join Karen and me while we look at building a novel or painting a picture.

Tuesday's Inspiration - The Creative Cycle via Sue Grafton #MFRWauthor

Last week, we looked at the first three steps of this cycle, now we'll finish the remaining ones.

First draft. For me this is the rough draft and often finds me traveling along the road I've planned for the story and discovering part way along my planned story that it won't work. I may not have figured out my characters or some other problem like too much plot. What I do then is just begin again and write as fast as I can to push past what ever blockage stopped me the first time. Often much of what had been written can be saved with some tightening or some twist in the path I hadn't seen before. Like Ms. Grafton, the writing continues until I have what may look like a hodge-podge of material but the story is down and then comes the fun part.

The next step in the cycle is revision. What Ms. Grafton speaks about is making the mind a blank and looking at this as though you weren't a writer. As I start this, little ideas and twists show me where something must be taken out or what must be expanded on. There's nothing worse that reading a story and finding a scene that the writer wimped out on and didn't play the entire drama out. Do I miss some of these on the first revision. Sure but on the second or third or as many times as it takes for the story to feel complete I usually pick this up.

From here the cycle turns to completion and this means a clean copy and a final read- through for me. This means for me things like Italizing sentences, changing the opening or closing of a paragraph but really leaving the words as they have evolved.

Now comes the end part of the cucle. For Ms. Grafton, this means submission, followed by elation that the story has been finished and wonderful. Second thoughts follow making the writer wonder if the story is really good. For Ms. Grafton comes the dormancy stage. For me, I usually have a story that's been pushing to emerge and thus the cycle begins again.

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor

Meander 1 - All about Reviews - Of course one likes to see good reviews about their books but this doesn't always happen. I have reviewed books for other authors. Very few will receive 5 or anything since to me that means a book that will really engage me. But I have decided I won't review books any longer and the reason is a simple one. Of all the people whose books I have reviewed, there is only one who has given me a review on my books. I wouldn't mind rating the books but having to say things about them makes me wonder why I bother.

Meander 2 - Winter Is Coming - It's not that I don't like the colder weather. In fact I really like it since the cold weather allows me to make meals the family can eat for three or four days without my having to cook again. The older I get, the less I want to take time to prepare meals. Possibly because  thinking up new dishes isn't easy when most of the time there are only 2 of us to eat the meals. But there is is. Chicken vegetable and barley soup is this week's treat.

Meander 3 - Writing - The new story is beginning to go off course and I will have to pull it back. There may be too many little twists and turns so I will have to look at it again. Am getting ready to pull books from another publisher. There are three that aren't ready to be pulled yet so they will stay with the publisher until their stay ends. Letter will go out today and must be revised. Then I will need to get all of the others ready for publication.

Sunday, Talking about My Books - Heart Throb by Janet Lane Walters

Magda Malone likes men and has no desire to marry. She’s been there, done that and got burned. She’s happy with her position as coordinator of the cardiac unit at the hospital. A new neighbor promises many nights of steamy sex. Damon also has no desire for marriage. He had too many steps as a child and sees marriage as a serial sort of game. He doesn’t want to play. When Magda learns he’s a cardiologist, she blows him off. The problem is Damon has fallen in love and he must convince Magda there’s more between them than sex.

When I began this story, I set myself to a challenge or two. Often in romance, there's the attraction and the relationship develops into love and then there's physical commitment. Here I wanted to see if I could bring this couple together who both had reasons to want to keep their relationship on just a physical level. They are attracted to each other. The other challenge I set myself was the age difference. She's an older woman. He's the younger man. Though the story was tricky to write, I managed and the thing was the hero had to be the one to tumble into love first and he's the one who has to persuade her to fall for him.

The story was a fun one to write and while steamy and a fast read, I consider this a very contemporary read. There are few of the buzz words found in erotic romance but there are the heated emotions and a happy ending. I'm all for happy endings.

Saturday's Blurbs - Books by Tara Andrews #MFRWauthor

Current Release: Her Everything

Blurb:

Rachel Turner made a mistake—a couple, in fact.  Ruining a surprise meeting with the front man to her favorite band is just the beginning.  But agreeing to switch places with her famous sister may spell the end of both of their careers. With rumors flying and an unexpected invitation from Madame Eve, Rachel hopes she can put the mistakes behind her.

Attending an event to support a charity close to his heart, Mark Travis wasn’t looking for love, or even company—and definitely not with a fan.  But when he puts in a hasty bid at a silent auction and wins the services of 1Night Stand, Madame Eve has something different in mind.  A single evening with a woman she claims can fulfill his needs.  But one night might not be enough.

Come morning, will Mark and Rachel’s unexpected one-night stand give them more than they bargained for?

Where to Find Her Everything:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

All Romance eBooks

Kobo

Previous Release: Long Overdue

Blurb:

Jill Malone has been looking for love for all the wrong reasons. A reality check has her signing up for a no-strings attached night to simply forget about forever after. The last thing she expected was to know her blind date.

Blake Anders doesn’t need help finding a date, but he’s tempted by 1Night Stand’s reputation of arranging exactly what a person needs. And he needs more. Though doubtful, he agrees to one night and hopes to discover his perfect match. He didn’t count on Madame Eve reaching deep into his past to give him a night with the woman he never forgot.

Fearing another broken heart, Jill works to keep herself from becoming attached, but Blake goes all in to convince her that he wants their long-overdue love to be more than a one-night stand…

Where to Find Long Overdue:

Decadent Publishing

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

All Romance eBooks

Kobo

Friday's Guest - Tara Andrews - Talking about Heroes, Heroines and Villains #MFRWauthor

Book Title: Her Everything

Author: Tara Andrews

1. Do you write a single genre or do your fingers flow over the keys creating tales in many forms? Does your reading choices reflect your writing choices? Are there genres you wouldn’t attempt?

I’ve always been about the love story.  Romance is the first genre I began devouring as a reader, and it’s the only one I write.  Within romance, so far, I have two published contemporary erotic short stories. However, I also have a couple of paranormal romances I plan to finish in the future.  These are the types of stories I enjoy writing, and the ones I feel I can deliver on… at least as of this moment.  The only type of story I don’t think I’d ever be able to write is a horror story.

As a reader, romance is my go to—all types.  Contemporary, paranormal (of course), and Regency are the ones I usually catch my eye but I’m open to anything.  I also enjoy a good cozy mystery, too.

2. Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which are your favorite to write? Does one of these come easy and why?

 Heroines.  I identify with them easier.  Men are a mystery – at least the ones I know!  So I find it less natural (although still fun!) to write the male perspective.  Villains, though I find the hardest of the three to write.  I hate being mean to my characters, LOL.

3. Heroes. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or plain imagination create the man you want every reader to love? Do they come before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

Heroes, though not the easiest for me to write, are often the first to pop into my head.  My characters always come before the plot.  My initial story thoughts usually have to do with the hero’s reaction to a situation and I go from there.  Almost all my heroes start off looking like whatever actor has hit my radar, but then they begin to take on a look of their own.

4. Heroines. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or imagination create the woman you want the reader to root for? Do they appear before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

I like to think my heroines are women I can see myself being friends with –if they were real, that is.  There’s going to be something I respect about them and they’re definitely able to take care of themselves. I like to also think they are a surprise to my hero, but exactly who he needs.

I don’t use pictures at all for my heroines, except maybe for clothing.  Like the hero, my characters come before the plot.

5. Villains or villainesses or an antagonist, since they don’t always have to be the bad guy or girl. They can be a person opposed to the hero’s or heroine’s obtaining their goal. How do you choose one? How do you make them human?

Every action stems from a good intention.  It doesn’t have to be good for everyone, but there is always a desired outcome.  Every character also has a backstory, the reasons why they are the way they are.  I think having a basic understanding of your antagonist helps make their actions and reactions more believable.  It makes them more human

That being said, this is something I am working on strengthening!

6. What is your latest release? Who is the hero, heroine and or the villain?

My latest release is Her Everything, my second contribution to Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series.  The heroine is Rachel Turner, the twin sister to a pop star.  She’s loyal, protective, the responsible one, but she also has a bit of a wild side she hides very well.  The hero is Mark Travis, front man to a rock band, widowed father, and someone who least expects the evening in store for him!

7. What are you working on now?

My current project, which I’ve taken to calling my “Office Romance” as a working title will be longer story than I am used to writing.  It stars an incredibly hot, misunderstood son of a billionaire. It’s an awful lot of fun blindsiding him with my heroine.

8. How can people find you?

Website: http://www.taraandrews.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tara.andrews.author

Twitter: @tara_andrews1

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/taraandrews1/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8578362.Tara_Andrews

Thursday's Hero - Shandor from Healwoman #MFRWauthor

Shandor warmed his hands at the small fire and studied his companions.  The priest, Thiasi mid Chu, leaned against a rock and sipped the chocha he’d brewed to complete their midday meal.  The firelight caught auburn glints in the man’s brown hair.  Was he from Keltoi?  If so, he was a rarity among the priests.  Men of that nome seldom had traffic with Midran.

The third member of the party met Shandor’s gaze.  Vorgan’s pale hair and deep brown skin marked his heritage from Nilos.  The sneer on his face showed his dislike of Shandor.  Vorgan counted his blood purer because his father was a priest and his mother a concubine.  So often during their years of study, he had called Shandor a half-breed.  The reason lay in Shandor’s Healwoman mother and the five years he had lived with her in Bethsada.

“’Twould be best if you work as a team,” mid Chu said.  “The temple of Midra in Keltoi isn’t an easy one to enter.”

Vorgan rested his hands on his knees.  “Shandor, do you agree to be my partner in this venture?”

“Why not?”  Shandor knew Vorgan had no intention of aiding one he considered a rival.  He never had.  Why would he change his pattern?  Their training in the Gate of the Shadows drew to an end.  Upon completion of this task, they would enter the Gate of the Militos, the final step toward entry into the priesthood.

Mid Chu added wood to the fire.  “Your destination lies about a kil to the north and east.  You must enter the complex, find the chapel and remove an object to prove you have penetrated the inner courts.  Bring your trophy to me for validation.”

“What should we take?” Vorgan asked.

“The choice is yours.  I’ll move the camp.  Once you have the object, you must track me.  When your find is verified, you will return to the Enclave and present the token and trophy to the guard at the gate.  You must arrive before the ending of the lunar of the Frost Moon.”

Shandor looked up.  “Have you ever been to the temple?”

“Twice.”

“Would you share your knowledge?”

The priest nodded.  “Spoken like a true Shadow.  What others know is always of value.”

Vorgan glared.  “I, too, would hear what you know.”

Mid Chu took a stick and made a sketch in the dirt.  “The walls form a triangle.  The temple is in the center.  Against the wall are their eatery, stables, warrior’s dormitories, and some storage sheds.  The priestesses sleep on the second floor of the temple.  There is a forecourt with three doors.  The quickest way to reach the chapel is through the second door.  From the entry hall, pass under the stairs, turn right, then left.  The chapel is at the end of the hall.”

Shandor studied the diagram until he could see the sketch with his eyes closed.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - A Last Bit On Writing The Fiction Series #MFRWauthor

Karen Wiesner has gathered much information from many authors about writing series. Looking and reading this book has given many hints and clues to what makes series work and live on. There are just two more points I'll address. Series Recognition and Series Releases.

When writing a series there needs to be little points that make a reader know this is a story from the series. One of the points is helping a reader with points of recognition. These could be places in a town or changes in the town that returning characters recognize or wonder when an event happened. In several of the contemporary series I've written, there are places that each character has memories of visiting. Perhaps it's the hospital, a favorite restaurant, a particular house. Making these little bits can lead the reader to remembering other stories in the series. "Oh, yes, the hero in the last story loved that place. I remember the heroine in the third book visiting that particular place. This kind of recognition draws the series together and perhaps sends the reader to search out the book in the series they missed.

Releasing a new book in a series is important. Releasing too soon and the reader may skip that one. Releasing too late and the reader may have forgotten the series and the book is passed over. This can be a problem for the writer for the momentum they have obtained in releasing the series can fall flat. I wish I knew the answer to this since writing one or more series at a time can be exhausting at best. I really don't know the answer to this bit about releasing. We all know of series that one is waiting eagerly for the next book even if years go by before the book is released. There are other series that a new release is overlooked by the reader.

Tuesday''s Inspiration - Sue Grafton On "The Creative Cycle" #MFRWauthor

I may not finish this bit in just today but I found this an interesting look at the way someojne becomes a writer. The cycle may be a little different for some people but I really think this is what happens at least my road to becoming a writer followed much of this paty and sometimes I do go back to review a step or two.

First comes the urge. I know though I'd written bits and pieces over the years, not much of what I wrote made sense. Then I found books on writing and began to read them. Not everything I found made sense to me but often I discovered just a thread or two that led me to find some way of stringing words together in some way. I also read other writers fiction, a lot of fiction. I've always been a reader but this time the reading was different I began to look at how a writer defined their characters, used the setting or found a plot that made sense.

The second step in this cycle is Inspiration. A bit different from these weekly ones. Something tells you it's time for you to begin that story. My spark came when I was recovering from pneumonia and I received a bag of "nurse" romances. As I was reading them, one day the spark struck. "I can write one better than these." Of course I could -- Not. But I sent the story off and received editor responses. They hurt but they also made the spark brighter. From these rejections and by trying to do what the editors said, I finally sold that book.

In Ms Grafton's cycle the third step is research. Since I began my road from writer to author writing nurse/doctor romances and I was a nurse I had a built in research factory on those days when I went to work. My research was a lot of observation, and a delving into what I learned but as I continued writing, I began to look to other things and have accumulated a lot of material on other professions, other places in this world and off the world. Who knows what bit read or seen might trigger a strand in a story.

This is to be continued but look at your own cycle or road to becoming a writer and did you skip any of the steps?

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor

Meander 1 - I'm up for an award if enough votes are cast for my book. The Amber Chronicles in Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Here's the site http://btsemag.com/redcarpet/2014_ReadersChoice_SciFi.html I usually don't toot my own horn like this and ask for votes, but why not have no idea how I'm doing but some people have voted for my book. Would really like the honor but I will do some ads with the magazine next year.

Meander 2 - Have to write a letter requesting the return of many of my books. While I like being with the publisher and I've never had any problems with the owner the time has come to start putting all my books in one place. I'll begin with this one but I also have to print out the books and see what needs to be changed and written better. And I really can't do this in an instant. I wish I had done this with the other books I received the rights back on to bring them up to date in many ways.

Meander 3 - Writing is going well. Have Pursuing Michael West MD ready to go to publisher tomorrow. I hope I've done it right as far as formatting. I always feel this way when I send a book out, but this will be a fun book to see. Have begun the rough draft of Divided Dreams and am bringing the Grantley family back but it's attenuated. Rob is the main character and so is Andi, the girl he really hurt twelve years ago. The book may be longer than the other shorts but that's the way these things happen. Each book becomes the length it should be.