tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post6165021838500659057..comments2023-10-28T05:33:15.060-05:00Comments on The Writing Playground: Just Not Enough PagesMarilyn Puetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16073134550080890157noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-63970196287499320842009-10-16T16:38:42.309-05:002009-10-16T16:38:42.309-05:00Christine, I love the bit about waiting on a wave....Christine, I love the bit about waiting on a wave. How cool is that? I think about this every morning on the way to work. If I stay in the lane I'm in, I will get there. But if I swerve to get in a faster lane, it will invariably be the longer wait. <br /><br />Slow and steady wins the race, SP! Go with your gut every time. ;)Katherine Bonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14701961380138616355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-61223953036009746932009-10-16T14:33:27.571-05:002009-10-16T14:33:27.571-05:00My advice, write the book, don't try to analys...My advice, write the book, don't try to analysis it. Just write it. Just because this on isn't a category book doesn't mean the next want be. Besides, what is wrong with writing ST? Nothing in my book. It is part of your growing as a writer. It is how we learn our true voice, trail and error. Head up and get to writing!Misty Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05714687178246193620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-45292154908037307032009-10-16T14:03:02.192-05:002009-10-16T14:03:02.192-05:00Sister I can't give you any words of wisdom wi...Sister I can't give you any words of wisdom with this one, sorry about that. I'm trying to stay focused to get my office picked up and believe you me, it is needed!!! Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!<br />robertsonreadsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-51436913164400193832009-10-16T09:42:01.959-05:002009-10-16T09:42:01.959-05:00I'm just not sure I can offer any insight into...I'm just not sure I can offer any insight into this, says the woman who thinks 10K words is writing long. I think Heidi has some great advice and I like Christine's wave analogy.<br /><br />I just want my muse to book her return flight from Tahiti so I can write again.Playground Monitorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07444337591281145863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-44540912869786797622009-10-16T08:33:49.919-05:002009-10-16T08:33:49.919-05:00I agree with Heidi. I don't think this means y...I agree with Heidi. I don't think this means you can't write category (um, you've written 2 that I know of, both great!), it just means THIS particular story is not meant for category. It is a bigger story that needs the fullness of single title to tell it accurately. But another category idea will come along when you need it, I'm sure.<br /><br />But I think that it is good to be able to recognize when your book needs that bigger story. My first and only single title was intended to be a category, the first in a trilogy. Then I started writing it, and plotting some more, then I looked at it and said, uh oh. Definitely not category. Currently, it is sitting at 82,000 words. I never thought I'd be able to write that long (always been a short writer), but this story warranted it. And gave me a feel for a single title book. <br /><br />AngelAngelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17010424240956906870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-5211300847805054902009-10-16T06:43:38.174-05:002009-10-16T06:43:38.174-05:00Heidi--I love your comments about this issue. I to...Heidi--I love your comments about this issue. I totally agree. Get your voice down, hone your craft, and make every word count.<br /><br />Category romances are very hard to write. And even if you get the word count right, it's hard to always get the right tone for the right line. Plus the lines change their directions/focus so often it is hard to keep up with the demands.<br /><br />That's why I am moving forward, continuing to hone my voice, and I'm focusing on strengthening my writing voice.<br /><br />I have no control over the industry. I only have control over my work and my targets. <br /><br />That's why I sent out a bunch of queries yesterday. Like shooting arrows into a great abyss.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-52113433796936315962009-10-16T04:59:39.795-05:002009-10-16T04:59:39.795-05:00Hi Smarty Pants
Hmm, your post really got me thin...Hi Smarty Pants<br /><br />Hmm, your post really got me thinking. And the thought that came up most in my mind was... Authors aren't born with a voice that either fits category or single title, they're born with a voice that they then have to hone and develop and perfect into well-crafted and page-turning stories.... That they can get published. The idea that you should have to limit your voice or your talent to write category is a myth. Just read one of Nora Roberts' great category books, or one of Linda Howard's. I defy anyone to tell me Nora's voice wasn't coming through loud and clear in the MacKade series or Linda's in the Mackenzie stories. <br /><br />It's not about word count, it's about making sure that every word counts. And finding the imprint that's right for what you want to write (just as it would be for Single Title). <br /><br />You like to write secondary characters. You like to be quirky, spontaneous and layer in the emotional conflict. So do I. Figuring out how to have all that in a 50K work count and not loose focus on the central romance is a total frigging nightmare frankly, but when you pull it off, it's pure bliss made all the more blissful by the fact that it was so hard to do. And your readers will thank you for it.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Right, now I'll pop back to my current 'total frigging nightmare!!'Heidi Ricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925778214874519424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18688033.post-47733370022356578122009-10-16T03:48:34.185-05:002009-10-16T03:48:34.185-05:00The best advice I ever heard was from a keynote sp...The best advice I ever heard was from a keynote speaker at a conference I attended. She said "never chase trends" and "write the stories YOU want to write."<br /><br />That doesn't mean be self-indulgent and have long paragraphs of introspection. Nor does it mean not learning how to improve one's craft. But I do believe it means be true to your voice and to the people talking in our heads.<br /><br />I was at the beach recently (wish I was there now), and my DD and I were riding waves. Sometimes we had to wait a while for a good wave to come along. And just to the west or east, we'd see huge ones hitting other people. It was so tempting to go run over to catch those waves. But I said, wait. The right wave will come hit us soon.<br /><br />The trick is: be in the water, watch the waves, keep swimming--but as soon as you try to catch someone else's wave, you might miss the one that was meant for you all along.<br /><br />On another note: I've discovered I can write short, category length stories but they have a ST feel to them. Now I know I want to hone that strength, and if necessary layer in the extra words. One good friend/CP suggested taking the scenes and layering in 100-200 words of emotional depth.<br /><br />That adds a lot of words and is an excellent writing exercise.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.com