Angel's First Sale Party!

“We’d like to offer you a contract.”

After 10 years of writing, I thought I’d prepared myself for hearing those words. I’d honed my craft, listened carefully as the Playfriends, Mavens, and chaptermates discussed the business side of publishing, and handled quite a few phone calls about contest finals, including the RWA Golden Heart(R).

But on August 27, 2012, I learned that nothing could prepare me for hearing those words. They came when I least expected it.

I’d been working with Shana Smith, Associate Editor for Harlequin, on a submission for the Desire line. This was a book that Smarty Pants had read for me and loved. When Senior editor Stacy Boyd put out a request on Twitter for submissions, SP insisted I get it in. Ms. Boyd liked it and passed it along to Shana Smith. I completed a full revision and received another detailed email from her that I opened just knowing it was a rejection. I kept searching for the line that said, “But this just isn’t right for us…”

It wasn’t there!

She requested another set of revisions on the proposal and I found myself almost paralyzed. What if I screw this up? The Playfriends and my sister, Ella Sheridan, assured me I wouldn’t and we brainstormed some changes to fit the request. I received great editorial suggestions, too – Shana’s notes were thorough, encouraging, and spot on. I turned in the revisions just shy of my self-imposed two week deadline.

Now Shana had told me she’d read it “quickly”, so I was thinking a few weeks at the earliest. Imagine my shock when she called a mere 4 days later. 4 DAYS! I think my brain short-circuited when I heard, “This is Shana Smith from Harlequin.” But I know it did when she started talking about a contract and release date.

August 2013 – I’ll actually have a book with my name on it in August of 2013, exactly a year from now. Amazing. I think my exact words were, “Oh, wow.” The rest of the conversation was sparkling on Shana’s end and only halfway intelligent on mine. Definitely in shock.

The reality hit me as I told family and friends. I’ll never forget the Playfriends and Mavens excitement, thanking my sister for all her help, my husband’s hugs, and most of all, my children bouncing all over the car on the way home from school, squealing with joy. That was the moment I first teared up.

It’s been an exciting ride ever since. Lots of celebrations! My family even got to celebrate with me because they just happened to be visiting the following weekend from out of state. The flowers below were from the Mavens. So much fun!

And today I get to have even more fun with y’all! I’m pretty sure there will be cabana boys, massages, and all manner of alcoholic beverages in cyberspace today, but I’ll start us off with Krispy Kreme donuts (my fave!) and chocolate martinis. LET’S PARTY!

Angel

writing as Dani Wade

www.DaniWade.com

PARTY TIME!

Massages? This guy would be great, I think.

The Seat of My Pants

Everyone has their own writing process.  You'll often hear writers talk about whether they're a plotter or pantster. 

I fell into the former category.  The first short stories I wrote and the first book I wrote all had lots of notes and outlines and lists.  I even went so far as to do a storyboard for the book.  I changed the heroine's picture later because I found someone who looked more like I thought she looked.  But I digress.

This story was mapped out chapter by chapter.  The blue sticky notes were the hero's POV; the pink were the heroine's.  I could move things around if I needed to thanks to the wonders of 3M.

That method worked for that book.

And it worked for a lot of short stories.  But last month I wrote and submitted a story and by golly I did something different.

I flew by the seat of my pants.  Well, not totally.  I had a few notes with the characters' names and ages and a general idea of the plot (two people end up booked into the same mountain house at the same time).  But beyond that, I really didn't have much of an idea what was going on.


I just started writing.  And by golly the story took me places I hadn't imagined.  The characters ended up being different than I'd originally planned, especially the hero.

A couple times I had to backtrack a bit and write myself out of a corner.  But the really amazing part was that this writer, who used to struggle to hit the minimum word count for a story, ended up with 700 words too many!  I had to go back and cut the equivalent of almost three pages.  I discovered I apparently have a love affair with the word "just."  50 of the 700 I cut were probably "justs."

But the whole process was FUN!  And it was surprising and revealing and by golly I think I'm going to try it again for the next short story once I figure out what that story is going to be about.  I saw the phrase "the new normal" in a book I was reading and think that may be something worth pursuing.

So... writers, are you plotters or pantsters?  Or are you one of those hybrid plotzters?  Have you switched from one to the other method and lived to tell about it?

P.S.  I got an email from the editor that she wants to hold onto it for future consideration.  Good news!

LensDay

Writing can be a solitary endeavor with lots of time spent dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt in front of a computer screen. The activity is frequently called BICHOK -- Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard. It's just you and the story. You and the characters -- characters who sometimes get minds of their own and wander off where you don't want them to go.

And you sit there in your sweats and t-shirt, with no make-up and your hair pulled back in a ponytail or pushed back with a headband, mindlessly snacking on cheese doodles or jelly beans or microwave popcorn while you and you alone try to figure out how to tame these characters and make them behave.

Alone. 

That's how most writers spend a lot of their time.  And that's what I thought of when I snapped photos of these flowers one day.

All alone.  The only one seeing what you see.  The only one hearing these characters. 

The.  Only.  One.

Do you ever get the feeling you're the only one out there?

P.S.  We'd like everyone to join us today for a birthday celebration.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMARTY PANTS!

Romance Withdrawal

So many books, so little time… This used to be my mantra as a reader. I read a wide variety of romance sub-genres and even some non-fiction, along with magazines when I felt like buying them. I couldn't get enough of reading, even going so far as to teach myself to hold a book while I was nursing Little Man. After all, if I was gonna have to sit there for 40 minutes several times a day (mine were both slow nursers), I might as well do something for myself while I'm at it, right?

But now… Well, its gotten much harder for me to read as I've grown as a writer. My time is extremely limited at this stage of my life, as I'm sure many of you can relate to (what do people do after work when they aren't scraping out time to write?!?!). As a result, I give up on books much quicker than I did before. I used to push through until the book became really interesting, but now, you'd better hook me in some way during the first chapter, or I'm outta there. Knowledge of writing techniques has made me extremely judgmental (I'll be the first to admit it). With the wealth of online resources, freelance editors, etc., there is no excuse for multiple grammatical or spelling errors.

And I find that a lot of storylines don't appeal to me anymore – for instance, I'm SO not a fan of the bitchy heroine. She seems to be everywhere these days. Strong – yes. Kickass – sure. Bitchy and critical of everyone around her – not so much! It’s a fine line that I'm pickier about that most people. Plus I can't read anything like what I'm plotting or writing at the moment, because I don't want to be unconsciously influenced by it. Sigh.

And the biggest issue? When I do find a really good book, I don't want to stop reading it. I know it may not seem like it, but that is a problem. I feel like I should be writing during that time, rather than reading. During the week, it can take me a couple of evenings to read a single title length, even though I'm a fast reader. After all, dinner has to be cooked and I've often got chores, children to pay attention to, etc., before I fall asleep just from sitting still. Weekends too.

I still read the occasional magazine (usually during dinner or right before bed), and I pick up anthologies once in a while. But I miss the depth of single title length books. So what's a former romance addict to do?

Right now I'm using really good books as a reward for getting large chunks of writing done. I've just spent 3 long months doing a complete rewrite of a previous book, and I've decided there will be no more writing until I finish the 2 books I just bought. One is from an author that I've read before and loved. One is a new to me author, but I read a few of the first pages just to check if I liked her voice – I already knew I liked the story idea.

I'm going to give my brain a few days to recover and rejuvenate (something I affectionately call refilling the well), and hopefully indulge my romance addiction at the same time! If you're a writer, do you find yourself having these same issues? What about you readers? How do you make time for your favorite addiction? :)

Angel

PS. Today is stop 4 on Andrea's blog tour. Pop in to read her call story and comment on expecting the unexpected to get another entry for her sea glass locket!

Again and Again

Ever do something, walk away and realize you forgot to say something important? And that it was probably obvious at the time but you were focused on something else and missed it?

Yeah, that happened to me this week. I taught a class for our local library on the fundamentals of good fiction. I tore through a huge list of topics - characterization, pace, show vs. tell, dialogue, etc. And apparently developed a brand new favorite phrase - 9 times out of ten. I have no idea why I felt the need to say it repeatedly. It isn't a phrase that comes up often in my normal life. Honestly, it wasn't even that important in the topic I was covering.

And, yet, I heard myself say it over and over again. To the point that I was aware of it and by the end was cringing internally every time I said it. But I couldn't seem to stop myself before the words were out of my mouth.

So what does this have to do with realizing I missed a great opportunity? It wasn't until later that night when I realized I could have used the situation in the class. At one point I even talked about ways to tighten your writing - like looking for repeated information, words and phrases. Duh! Like the one I kept repeating endlessly.

I'd really like to go back and edit my class. Unfortunately, without a time machine I don't think that's going to happen. Ever wish you could go back in time and change something you did or said?

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Guest Blogger: Addison Fox

Have y'all recovered from your sugar comas yet? :) Happy Halloween Daze! Today, we're gonna jump right into winter with my fellow Ruby Slippered Sister, Addison Fox. She's gracious enough to give us some insight into her writing process, and give away a copy of her new book, Baby, It's Cold Outside. So scoot over and make room on the teeter totter for Addison (we'll share our leftover M&Ms, I promise!).

Process... A Peek Inside The Writers Toolbox

First of all, my thanks to the Writing Playground for having me back to play. I love visiting these gals and am so excited to come back and play! And an extra-special thank you to Angel for inviting me back!

So I had someone ask me a question recently that’s had me thinking. I sort of just answered it off the cuff, but the more I’ve thought about it the more I keep thinking about it, if you know what I mean.

My new contemporary series is about to launch with BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE and up to now, all of my published work has been paranormal. The question posed to me was how different I found it writing contemporary versus paranormal. And my answer…

I didn’t find it different at all.

Literally – not one bit.

And what I’ve found, as I’ve thought about the question over the past week, is that how I write and what I write are inextricably linked. For me, the “how” is character driven. I’ve yet to write a story where the characters didn’t come to me first. Even in cases where I had a sense of the plot more firmly in my mind, it always comes down to characters. And the “what” is the story I’m going to wrap around them.

For me, the process of getting them from the “how” to the “what” simply doesn’t change. The process of telling “their” story (because we all know those characters become very real people in our minds) is my writer’s journey – not the world I’ve set them in.

After thinking about this for a while, I also began to understand why I write romance (seriously, I’m sure my friend had absolutely no idea she’d send me down this path of self-discovery!). While I’m an avid reader across genres, I’ve never thought about writing anything but romance. And I think it’s because for me, the fun in telling the love story is the joy in figuring out what makes these two people tick.

All of this self-discovery has only reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time now – that a writer’s process is sacrosanct. There is no class that will teach you about your process because it’s as personal and distinct as your fingerprint. In fact, if there’s one single thing I would like every writer starting out to believe – “live it, breathe it, be it” sort of belief – is that your process is not only special, but it’s the thing that makes you unique. None of this is to say that there isn’t always room to improve craft, technique, etc, but it also means that how you get the words on the page is your special gift and it’s not to be trifled with!

OK – Stepping off soapbox now!

So….now that I’ve rambled about process, I’d love to hear from you. As writers, what have you discovered on your writers journey that helps you understand your process? As readers, are you drawn to the characters or the plot first? One lucky poster will get a copy of my new release BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE – choice of format is up to you.

Happy Writing!
Addison

Check in later this week to find out Addison's winner!

Kate Walkers' winner from last week was Chey! Please contact Kate with your contact information. Also, don't forget to click on the link in the sidebar to enter the September-October Playgroud Contest! Today's the last day!

Angel

The Long Road Home

All relationships have their ups and downs. There are moments you feel incredibly close to someone, and others when you wish they’d just go away and leave you alone. Other things in our lives offer bumpy roads too. Those jobs that we love, until we have a frantic deadline and then we don’t love them so much. The house that’s ideal, except while going through a tough renovation. The baby we tried so hard to conceive, only to endure 2 months of colic.

Just like all things in our lives, authors’ connections to our writing also waxes and wanes. Sometimes because we don’t know where we’re going. Sometimes because we neglect it. Sometimes because circumstances in our lives push it to the side until they are resolved. That’s what happened to me.

I had to step away from my writing for a while – not without guilt, not without grief – but eventually, as always happens, life settled down. My creativity returned. First in drips and drops, then a trickle, then a stream. But that stream has to be nurtured.

So I worked through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, read other creativity recovery books, became involved in an accountability group, and above all, wrote. Edited. Wrote some more. And slowly found my way back to my writing.

I learned one very important thing on this journey: nurturing my creativity means I must honor it. I honor it by making my writing a priority in my daily life, by listening when my characters speak, and by behaving as if the seven years I’ve invested into this dream have a purpose.

To that end, in addition to my writing, I started working on my author website. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it! It reminded me of my scrapbooking endeavors. I had a lot of fun, and it was rewarding to celebrate all I’ve accomplished over those seven years and the purpose I had for doing so. Acknowledging the successes I’ve had, no matter that they aren’t recognized by others.

So in a way, my author website isn’t about “making a web presence” or “preparing to be a published author” or “establishing a brand”. It’s a way for me to celebrate my own journey, to remind myself that there is beauty and happiness in the act of creation.

So celebrate with me! Tell me the most important dream you’ve pursued in your lifetime to date. And where do you want it to go from here?

Check out my new website, under my brand spanking new pseudonym: http://www.daniwade.com/

Angel writing as Dani Wade

Coming Soon!

Join us on Wednesday when we welcome Harlequin Presents author Kate Walker, who will be celebrating her newest release!

Getting Away From It All

The Playfriends are prepping for a trek to the mountains of Tennessee for our local chapter’s Annual Retreat. I’ve always loved a good retreat, from the time I attended my first for my youth group at age 12. These times of getting away from the daily grind and just relaxing are even more precious to me now.

For our chapter retreat, we don’t do a lot of writing (although my sister and I plan to do some writing sprints while we’re gone). We talk a lot of writing – plotting, industry, process, etc. and I’ve learned some of my most important lessons during these impromptu discussions. But we also talk a lot about life – family, jobs, and the struggle to make our work a priority in the midst of the chaos. Those chats are even more precious to me!

That is an annual retreat that I indulge in once a year. Sometimes I have to scrimp and save to be able to afford, but I just can’t not go. I think after all my hard work all year, I deserve it. And so does my creativity. Its really hard to sustain a consistent writing pace in the chaos that is my life. But it isn’t the only type of retreat. There are authors who get away in little groups of 3 or 4 to brainstorm story ideas. Some chapters have actual WRITING retreats where the goals is to get a lot of pages done while you are gone. And then there is the solo retreat.

I haven’t been away by myself for a weekend since my son was little. My husband gave me a weekend at a bed and breakfast, alone, for Mother’s Day that year. This year, I’m taking a little bit of time and money and running away from home for a few days. Oddly enough, the hubby is supportive. LOL I think he hopes I’ll come back more sane and rested… and did I mention sane? Wishful thinking.

But I plan to sleep, write, swim, write, eat, write, nap, write, and maybe do a little sightseeing to refill the well. I can’t wait! I’m more excited about this than I have been about anything in a long time. Pathetic, huh? But to me it sounds like heaven.

Have you ever retreated with a group or by yourself? If you could get away BY YOURSELF for a few days, where would you go? What would you do?

Angel

The Melody

I've recently started listening to music while I write. It's sort of funny because for years I avoided working with any noise around. If there was movement in the office, I couldn't concentrate. Or if the kids interrupted me in the middle of a scene that was moving well I wasn't happy. You'd think having a song - complete with lyrics - blaring in my ears would have the same effect wouldn't you? At least I did. I was wrong.

I'm not exactly sure why or how it works for me. I just know it does. I think maybe it has something to do with the music blocking out all those other noises that annoy me when I'm in the middle of my creative process. But that's just a guess on my part. And, really, it's sort of counter-intuitive since when these same songs come on the radio I sing them at the top of my lungs. *shrugs* I've decided not to pick at it too much for fear the magic might unravel.

I do have the added bonus of using certain songs to help me get into the 'mood' of a scene. I have a playlist for love scenes, grovel scenes, emotional scenes, actions scenes... It's funny because I find my favorite 'go to' songs change. I think partly because I get tired of listening to the same thing over and over after awhile, but also because each book is unique and I need different inspiration.

If you're a writer, do you listen to music while you write? Does the idea make you cringe? As a reader, would you want to know what songs inspired the story you're reading? Do you have any good music you think I should check out? I'm always interested in expanding my playlist!

My current favorites are:
These Old Wings - Anna Nalick (her new album is awesome!)
Car Crash - Anna Nalick (this song opens with I think I love you like a car crash, dear. Sorta caught my attention)
Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5
If I Die Young - The Band Perry (yeah, I know this doesn't sound very upbeat - and it isn't - but I love the message and the melody of it so much)
I Get Off - Halestorm (bet you can't guess what scenes I use this song for...)
Set Fire to the Rain - Adele (I LOVE this song! Just the idea of setting fire to rain pulled me in)

Instigator

Feel the Burn...

With the kids back in school, I’ve been trying to return to some kind of schedule for exercising. During the summer is really hard, and I kind of view the start of school at my “New Year” when I rev back up on my focus and determination.

For me, there are many correlations between writing and exercise. People who've never tried to write with publication as a goal don't understand this. But I'm sure all you published and aspiring writers out there do.

Ways Writing is Like Exercise:

1. Just like exercise does a lot of good for your body--strengthening bones, building muscle, working your heart--so writing does a lot of good for your mind. Every writing session builds those writing muscles, expanding your ability to endure, to focus, and to create. Increasing activity keeps your mind on the story, training your mind to "see" the characters, "hear" the dialogue, and translate the pictures into words.

2. Just like exercise builds balance in our lives between activity and inactivity, so writing allows us to take care of ourselves as well as others. I'm sure this doesn't just apply to Moms, but I know that writing has helped keep me in touch with me during the sometimes overwhelming demands of my daily grind. I have to schedule time to be creative. Get out of the house so I can write without interruptions or the whisperings of a dirty house. Find a baby sitter so I can attend meetings and workshops. And in doing so, I honor my dreams.

3. Just like I have to force myself to get off my behind and move, many times I have to force myself to insert butt in chair and write. Especially when I'm just starting a book or have hit a snag. When everything is flowing (you know what I mean), life is wonderful and writing is easy. Let the flow dry up and writing can be torture. But the only way to start the stream again is to, well, write. In that way, writing becomes a discipline. One with rewards beyond the obvious, rewards I don't know if I could describe to someone who doesn't have the need to write.

4. Just like exercise quickly falls to the wayside when life gets busy, so writing often gets put on the backburner in times of chaos. At least for me it does. Of course, I don't have the joy and burden of a deadline. The urgent things often get the most of my attention. But I'm learning how to get back on the wagon. By the way, my husband will attest to the fact that I don't view dishes or laundry as urgent.

5. The rewards are proven. For exercise, this might be obvious. With writing, it might be a little harder. Sure, we can see the hundreds upon thousands of books on the bookstore shelves. But if you aren't published, are the results as satisfying? Well, I'm not going to lie and say that seeing my name on the front of a book on that bookstore shelf wouldn't be one of the biggest thrills of my life. But there are other rewards. The joy in finally realizing what I am: a writer. The excitement of plotting a new book or story, with all the possibilities that come with it. The satisfaction of writing THE END. The pride in submitting a work I'm not embarrassed to let someone besides myself see. And to be honest, those rewards beat exercise hands down. :)

So, what will you push yourself for today? What activity in your life is most like exercise (besides the obvious)?

Angel

Coming Soon!

Join us on Wednesday when Cheryl Michael, Social Media Consultant, comes by for a visit!

The Dreaded AFS

Okay, I have to admit that completing the art fact sheet (AFS) is not my favorite part of the publishing process. It's an important tool that several departments use to sell, package and prepare my book for publication though so I really try to take my time and do it right. The art department uses it to prepare the cover, the marketing department uses it for product placement, my editor uses it to write back cover copy and it's also used to sell foreign rights so my book can be translated into multiple languages. Really, it's quite important.

Not only do I want to make sure that the characters look right on the cover - which means I need to be pretty detailed about not only what the characters look like but their character traits as well - but I also want to make sure everyone that reads the AFS understands what the core idea of the book is. Providing them with detailed information gives my book the best chance to succeed.

One of the fun parts of the AFS is I get to suggest several scenes I think would make a great cover. I usually have an idea in my head about what I think would look great. Sometimes I'm right - most of the time I'm not. Harlequin has some of the best cover artists in the business and they know what they're doing. A heck of a lot better than I do. So while I might not always get what I wanted, I've never once been disappointed with the cover I've gotten. I figure they don't tell me how to write the book, who am I to tell them how to design a dynamic, eye-catching cover?

So, help me feel better about the three AFS I just completed. Do you have a favorite book cover? Something that caught your eye and called to you from the store shelves? Have you ever bought a book because of the cover?

Instigator

P.S. I'm visiting today at the Blaze 10th Anniversary celebration. Come hear what TV show I thought would have been better as a Blaze.

I Need a Hero

I'm in the middle of revisions for my current manuscript. They're going...fine. Have I mentioned before that revisions aren't my favorite part of the process? My mind tends to wander in the middle of things to whatever idea is percolating in the back of my brain. It's always better and more exciting than whatever is on the page in front of me. I know, I think I have writer's ADHD - Oooh, look at the shiny new plot. Honestly, the book is great - I had this feeling about this one at one point, too. And I know by the time I get through with the notes from my editor it will be fantastic. In the meantime, I trick my brain by dangling the ability to plot as my carrot.

What I always have the most fun with is fleshing out my heroes. I have to fall in love with him first before I can let him fall in love with my heroine. I've heard editors say that authors tend to play with the same kind of heroes and heroines over and over again. It makes sense that there are qualities from my husband that I naturally put into my books because they're what I find attractive. Physical and emotional attributes. I like me some bad boys - there's something about redeeming them that's so much fun. A man with the ability to be naughty and reckless and loyal and demanding can be so enjoyable to tame. Yeah, bad boys are my favorite.

I know what I like in my heroes...my question is, what do you look for in a hero?

Instigator

The Journey or The Destination?

A friend's son graduated from high school recently, and she blogged about the speech he gave at the graduation ceremony. He quoted from an essay his father had told him about. The essay is called The Station and is by Robert J. Hastings. You can read it in full here.


Hastings's essay, which first appeared in Ann Landers's column in May of 1981, suggests that we spent way too much time focused on where we're going instead of the journey to get there. He likens life to a train ride where we sit in the passenger car, oblivious to everything whizzing by outside and we focus only on our destination. He even goes so far as to say there isn't really a "station" in our lives. There's no finish line. We only have the road we travel and we often miss the real joy in life because we're so intent on that non-existant "station," which he calls "a dream that constantly outdistances us."

He writes, "We think that on a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station. There will be bands playing, and flags waving. And once we get there so many wonderful dreams will come true. So many wishes will be fulfilled and so many pieces of our lives finally will be fit together. How restlessly we pace the aisles… waiting, waiting, waiting, for the station."

When I first began writing, I had no destination in mind. I just wrote. Then I learned about the "station" and set it in my sights, with various scenic points along the way, such as submitting, perhaps getting an agent, finaling in a prestigious contest, winning a contest, getting "The Call" and the list goes on.

In life we have these scenic points too -- finish high school, then finish college, get a good job, marry, have a family, raise the kids and get them out on their own, retire comfortably and that list goes on too.

And all during the time we spend focused on those, we often miss the little things -- the quiet moments snuggled on the sofa with a toddler, the rainbow after a thunderstorm, the first fireflies of summer, the bird nesting in the backyard tree, the quiet of a January snowstorm.

And if we don't get "The Call" or win the contest or get the big promotion, what then? Have we failed? Everyone tells us to be goal oriented, and that's a good thing. We need goals or we wander around aimlessly. You can't hit a target if you don't know what or where it is. But are there limits?



Right now the journey seems rather like this maze of train tracks and the destination... well, I'm not sure what it is anymore. The magazines I wrote for are folding one by one. The online class I was scheduled to teach over the next two weeks has been cancelled due to lack of enrollees. I'm sure the economy played a part in that along with the very precarious nature of the magazines.

Looking back, perhaps I put too much effort into those magazines and not enough into book-length fiction. But I had a good thing going and my sales over the past few years paid my way to the RWA conference. OTOH, with the magazines in flux, maybe lots of folks will just stop submitting to them and it'll be easier to sell to the remaining two.

Or perhaps I should stop worrying about selling anything and get back to the joy of writing I had when I first started.

What about you? Have you missed the sights along the way because you were too focused on the destination?

Whistling a Different Tune

I've been cranking out the pages over the last several days. 58 pages in 2 days. Don't get too impressed though, I followed those with a 6 page day. Any other time I would have thought that perfectly acceptable, but not after setting a new personal record.

Anyway, part of my marathon writing sessions included updating my iTunes account. My process is funky. Some books I write in the bathtub, some I write at the office and some I pile up in the bed with my headphones and rock music blaring in my ears. Apparently, this book requires music. And I discovered that I was woefully behind on said music selection. I honestly think the last time I hit the buy button was almost a year ago.

So, I'm basically wondering if I've missed out on some really great music since then. I have some personal favorites - Anna Nalick, Theory of a Deadman, Sugarland, Nickleback, Carrie Underwood, Josh Groban, Muse, Evanescence. Yeah, so my taste in music is a little eclectic. I also admit to having Justin Beiber, Hannah Montana and Selena Gomez on my iTunes, but I promise those songs are only there for my girls. Really. I swear.

Do you have a favorite artist? Favorite song? Anyone I should add to my favorites list? If you write to music do you find that you use specific songs to inspire certain emotions? I've got great sensual, angry, loving and sad songs that I go to every time I need some background atmosphere to help me get into the mood of the scene. Or does music while you're trying to write drive you insane?

Instigator

P.S. Allyn is PM's winner from yesterday. Please email her at playgroundmonitor@writingplayground.com with your name and snail mail address to claim your prize.

Asking For Help

It has been brought to my attention that I suck at marketing. Repeatedly. And I can't lie, it's true. There are valid excuses but they don't counteract the fact that I suck at marketing. I'm just not very good at tooting my own horn.

I think part of my philosophy stems from my crazy busy life, but also from the reality that I can't quantify the success of anything I do. I'm a touchy feely kinda girl. I wanna know how something works, see the results, or I lose the enthusiasm for doing it. Unfortunately, there's just no way to quantify marketing. There are too many variables and no good way to interview every single person that purchases a book to find out what made them pick that one up off the shelf.

So, that's where y'all come in. I'd really like to know what influences you to pick up a book. Have you ever bought a book based on a blog that you read? A bookmark you received? Or do you only buy based on cover or blurb copy? If you have an ereader has it influenced how you purchase books? Do you instantly buy anything that a trusted friend recommends?

I know that for me, my Nook has really changed the way I shop for books. I'll always buy based on a recommendation from friends who read and enjoy the same kind of books that I do. But I've found myself purchasing authors that I've never heard of (in genres that I don't usually read) because of recommendations from B&N. And really enjoying them. I honestly don't think I've ever purchased a book based on a blog that I've read. A blog might remind me to pick up a book I was already interested in (as in, oh yeah, I forgot that was out this week). But, maybe that's just me?

I really find this subject fascinating because I've discovered that my buying habits aren't necessarily the norm. This was a possibility I'd never thought of. I'm not sure if that means I'm out of touch with reality or just really blinded by my own life. I'm not sure either of those things is good. I'm honestly wondering if I need to reevaluate my take on the whole book buying process. What do y'all think?

Instigator

A Different Kind of Journal

If you had told me years ago that I would blog weekly for more than 5 months -- much less 5 years -- I’d have responded with a hearty “No Way!”. Well, “Yes Way!”. We’re in our 5th year on the blog and I’ve managed to find a topic for 90% of those weeks (and guest bloggers the rest of the time).

I think one reason I’ve been able to stick with this is that the format is very similar to journaling, just on a more structured level (at least, for me it is). Granted, y’all may not find my personal musings and observations on life earth-shattering, but, well, they're just me. I try to strive for something more helpful than “navel gazing”, but I’m a “navel gazing” kind of girl. ;) Introspective, and definitely an indoor cat.

I’ve been a fan of journaling since my early teens, turning to the practice of putting my thoughts on the page long before I started writing fiction. I don’t do it every day, unless I’m trying to work through a particular issue or problem. Then journaling becomes a form of self-therapy for me. Lately, I’ve been struggling a great deal with blocked creativity (writing in fits and starts, not writing at all, characters not talking, etc), so I’ve decided to work through “The Artist’s Way”, a book by Julia Cameron. The lessons are designed to assist artists of all kinds in initiating or re-establishing relationships with their creativity. She advocates practicing “Morning Pages”, which is 3 free-form pages of writing each morning.

I like to call it Brain Drain. I get all the stuff whirling through my head out onto the page -- anger, frustration, happiness, memories, To Do lists, plot ideas, snatches of dialogue, plans, anything, everything. Cameron contends this process dissolves blocks to creativity. I certainly hope so, but just as important is the clearing of my head and the increased sense of focus. Plus, I can look back at it if I need to remember something! Like that list of things I need to get done today.

So, do you practice journaling? If not, how do you clear out the mind clutter?

Angel

Coming Soon!

Join us this Friday, January 14, when author Evenlyn Vaughn visits the Playground.

Guest Blogger: Autumn Jordon

I'm pleased to welcome another of my Ruby Slippered Sisters today. Author Autumn Jordon has been a delight to get to know, and her first book, Evil's Witness, released in June of this year. Join me in welcoming her to the Playground (although we may have to sit under the pavilion because it is too hot to play out in the sun!).





What would you do if someone told you your story line didn’t work? None of the elements worked? It in fact, the plot sucked? Would you give up writing the story, because after all, time is precious and you have so little now and you can’t afford to waste it? Or would you give up writing?

This actually happened to me. I was told by someone in my early writing days that my idea would never sale. I was told this by someone whom I admired. The words hurt and I never forgot them even though I did forgive the person for being so harsh.

I also let the story go for a number of years until I met another author at a conference who I hadn’t spoken to in a while. She was signing her books and doing very well. (Back-story: Muliti-pubbed author also had critiqued the first three chapters of that same book years ago. We were both pre-pubbed at the time) After our initial greeting and hugs, the first thing out of her mouth was, “Did you ever finish that book?” When I hung my head and said, “No.”, she asked, “Why not? I loved that story. I still remember the scene….”

I can’t tell you the feeling of JOY which welled up in me as I listened to her enthusiasm for my story. I hugged Multi-pubbed author again. Wow! YEARS later, she still remembered my story. That is the goal of every writer, at least of those I know. God, I love her.

After the conference, I found the file on a floppy disc and unfortunately was able to retrieve it. I worked on the story with the enthusiasm of a new writer. The ideas flowed. The characters once again came to life and I was so happy.



The moral, don’t ever let any ONE person stop you from writing the book of your heart. Passions for books are so subjective. There are books on the NY Times list that I wonder how they got there. I’ve tossed books aside because they were a waste of my time and money, and there are those I’ve read released from small publishers that have touched my heart and will remain on my keeper shelf.

I finished my story. Its first pages went on to final in the Golden Acorn contest. It won the NJ Single title PUT YOUR HEART IN A BOOK contest, it was a 2009 Golden Heart Finalist and Evil’s Witness sold to that same year to the Wild Rose Press. Since its release on June 18 it has received two great reviews from review sites and great comments from readers on B&N.com and Amazon. Com.




Don’t’ you ever let anyone take your dreams from you. I will find you if you do.

BIO: Autumn Jordon, a quiet nut with a reputation for finding trouble, lives with her husband who supplies her with support and tons of laughs along the Appalachian Trail in northeast Pennsylvania. Crafting stories has always been part of her life. While in fourth grade, her first novel, A Night To Remember, sold three copies: to her best friend, teacher and mother. When not writing or blogging she enjoys her family which includes a Yorkshire Terrier and an Irish Setter, her friends, great books, gardening, walking the trails and traveling with her dear hubby . Her favorite destinations, so far, farther from home are Vermont and Arizona. Visit her at http://www.autumnjordon.com/


Thanks for joining us today, Autumn!

So let's discuss dreams today--what dreams have you pursued throughout your life? Have you given up on some, discovered new ones, or followed one in particular with the determination of the tortoise (slow but steady)?

Angel

Line Edits

I'm sitting here in the peaceful moments before my day gets crazy. The girls are still asleep. The dogs haven't figured out I'm awake yet and aren't begging me for food. The cats are still curled up in their hidey holes and haven't started rubbing their little ears in my face wanting attention. This is complete bliss and I know it'll only last for about the next five minutes...so I better type fast. :-)

I'm in the middle of line edits for my next Blaze. This is the point in the writing process that always makes me feel like an idiot. This is where all my nasty grammar habits come to the surface. It's where those stupid typos that I should have caught the last twenty times I read the manuscript become glaringly obvious and I want to kick myself because I didn't catch them before. This is where my wonderful editor points out those pesky time line problems that I've been conveniently ignoring and - gasp and shudder - she makes me fix them.

Honestly though, I've always found the line edit stage interesting. There are strange, alien marks on my book that require a separate Internet Explore page with a key for things like squiggly lines and random dots. But this is also my last chance to make the book right. It's my last opportunity to fix any problems because after this the words are set in stone. For a book that will hit the shelves in January, my last chance to tweak it is the beginning of July.

The moment I finish line edits is always a little bittersweet. I'm happy that my work on the project is complete and that the next time I see the story it will have a pretty cover and my name in big letters on the front. But I've usually spent the last several months working hard to make the project the strongest that it can possibly be. With each book I grow as a writer and I can see that development as I go through the edits. I'm happy and sad at the same time when I turn over that last page.

So, I'll hopefully be finishing up my line edits this weekend (alone with celebrating my twelfth anniversary tomorrow). An excellent way to spend the holiday.

Instigator

New Book Excitement

Something wonderful happened this week: I fell in love!

No, I’m not cheating on my husband… well, maybe in my mind. You see, I’ve fallen in love with the hero and heroine of my new book. Since I’m always on here whining and complaining, I figured I’d share the good news with y’all. Let’s just keep it between us, okay? Wouldn't want to lose my reputation as a pessimist.

I’ve had the idea for this series in the back of my mind for a while, but I knew up front it was single title and different from what I’d done before. It’s darker, edgier. I’m traveling in a new direction, which is fun, freaky, and frankly terrifying. At first, I was simply nervous I couldn’t pull it off. But I just finished my novella and knew I had to start writing something else. This was the only idea that called to me, and I decided it was time to take the plunge. I’ve been toying with the plot and characters for the last few weeks, and decided that since I had plenty of time to focus on my writing while the kids were out of the house, I’d finally start Chapter One.

And I did, but I only have 10 pages so far. Instead, I delved deep into the characters (so far I have 12 that populate this particular world, including H/h’s from books 2 and 3—a far cry from the 3 or 4 in my category books) and plot (the plots for books 2 and 3 started showing up in large hunks-both scary and wonderful, let me tell ya). I’ve discussed possibilities for mystery and an overarching scandal (meaning it runs through all 3 books) with critique partners, until they are probably tired of hearing from me. I’ve pulled pictures off the internet for characters, clothes, furniture, and décor.

Finally one day I realized something—every time I thought about my characters or my book, I got an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach. That twitchy cross between nervous anticipation and excitement that comes with the thought of someone you’re falling in love with. The one you can’t wait to see again. The one you want to get to know better. The one you come to crave in your life.

I’ve fallen in love with my book. Yay!

So even though I was completely freaked out and scared I would screw up, I made myself start the first scene on Thursday. To psyche myself out of the jitters, I hand wrote the first few pages instead of typing. It seemed less “permanent” that way, so if I messed up I could just chunk it and forget about it. Saturday, I started typing those words into a computer file. Guess what? They don’t completely suck. Yay, me! :) And I can’t wait to write some more (a big difference from dreading the page a few months ago).

You can keep track of my progress in the blog sidebar, which I’m going to try to update weekly.

So tell me, what’s going right in your life? Let’s have a gratitude day! (I heard that—stop your grumbling!) I’m grateful that I love my story and am once again excited about writing. AND I’m grateful to have my kids home. I never thought I’d say this, but I missed the little boogers. :) What about you?

Angel

Happy Belated Father's Day to all those supportive husbands out there! For all the times you've listened to our plots until your eyes glazed over, for all the times you've kept the kids so we could escape into our books, and for all the times you've eaten take out for dinner--we love you. You're the best!

What's This Pile For?

I'm currently reading a book about writer's block that has taken quite a different direction than I expected. The author discusses (sometimes in confusing detail) how our brain works and the implications on the creative process. Especially fascinating are the discussions of right brain versus left brain and the struggles between the two. A couple of sections really highlighted some patterns I've seen in my own life, but one in particular was spot on.

Creative types tend to be "pilers".

He says that creative people tend to make piles of items they use all the time or feel they'll need to come back to. One reason is because if we can't see it, then it doesn't exist (to a certain extent). I can't tell you how true this is for me! Though I try to keep them neat, I have several piles on my desk, and have had to resort to file holders that are out in the open, because if I put something away, I forget about it.

This same reason is part of the source of my "plotter" mentality. It isn't just that I have to know where I'm going. I write things down as I think of them, because if I don't, I'll forget it (same thing with my To Do list). When I first started writing I had piles of paper, scraps and napkins where I'd written down ideas. The organizer in me insisted this all had to be neater, so I started organizing in a notebook... and thus a plotter was born.

The author says this is a problem because though we pile things around us so we can keep track of them, the clutter distracts us when we're trying to write. We sit down to type and "see" all the stuff we should work on besides our books. His solution for his desk was an open filing system so he could see the files, but not the mess itself. I guess my own filing system and plotting notebooks are a similar solution, though I still have piles that need to be dealt with.

So what about y'all? Are you a "piler" or "neat and tidy"?

Angel

The Playfriends will all be attending our local writing chapter's 13th Annual Romance Readers Luncheon on May 15th in Huntsville, AL. If you live in the Tennessee Valley, this is a wonderful event! Registration deadline is May 1st.