Okay see, up til now, I have come up with a story line and just written the book. Not much thought past “The End” until I get to the end. But after my not-so-stinging rejection recently, I have been trying to figure out where to consider placing this book. It is a category book, no question about it. But due to the way I constructed it, at certain houses it is only fit for one, or maybe (if I pull something out of my ass and throw in there) two lines.

So I wondered if I can come up with a story line that actually fits what these publishing houses would like to see. For instance, one particular line would like:

The hero who owns a ranch rather than works on it. A heroine who is flawed but not a push over. Scenerios with revenge, secret babies and/or marriages of convienence. (Okay you can probably figure out which line, but for legal reason I shan’t name it here.)

 I can write that, I supposed. It is a little less organic than my normal, “That would make and interesting book.” way of plotting. I can’t help but wonder if that is fair to me, or rather my very out there muse. I that is she is used to just writing. No rhyme or reason to why I am writing the story other than I liked the idea. Having said that, let’s assume I actually sell to one of these houses. They may want me to write more for them, they may ask me to (oh wouldn’t that be a lovely day!?!). Is that not pretty much the same thing anyway? And who in their “write” mind would say “no thanks, I think I will just keep writing what I come up with and see if I can find someone to buy it”–uh, not me… (again, this is assuming a lot, but a gal can dream can’t she?)

So I think I shall give it a try as soon as I finish my edits for Ames–man is she rough when she reads something–who does she think she is, expecting it to end, I mean c’mon………. :-) 

May had a great blog post over at RTB about group blogs and I was going to reply there but decided to save it for here, since this IS a group blog.

I honestly can’t tell you why we’re here, other than I know where all three of my partners in crime live and I can get to two of them in less than an hour :D so maybe they felt no wasn’t an option.

I’m not sure if we here at SFC actually work or not. But our voices DO seem to fit together –maybe because they’re all my critique partners *ggg* When we started I think we wanted this to be more of a reader’s blog but it seems to have morphed into a writer’s blog and that’s okay by me. As long as it works and we’re having fun.

Anyway I had to go searching for a minute but I’m back with the real reason for this post. There was a comment by Jane of Dear Author about authors who maybe should participate more on reader blogs or blogs like RTB than group blogs that got me to thinking (and I’ll happily admit that maybe I didn’t take her comment the way it was intended).

Do you remember the girl in school who always tried to horn on on your group (along with everyone elses group?)? Yeah, that girl, the one with the ugly hair and not quite right clothes? That’s how I feel when I comment on reader’s blogs. Except for maybe Sybil who likes to keep her finger in the pie that is the romance industry. I do occasionally comment on some reader’s blogs (like Rosario) especially if they’re talking about a book that interests me because I’m not just a writer, I’m a reader, and I’m always looking for a good book. But I always sort of feel like I’m intruding on a private party and maybe I should just go home.

So am I alone? And what about any readers out there? Does it bother you when authors POP up on your blogs?

Yes, I was supposed to be writing.  Or coming up with something for this blog.  So I had the pen in hand.  So I got a little carried away… 

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.

The planes in Spain fall mainly in the rain.

Raine fell in the plane en route to Spain. 

“Rain death upon them all!” he shouted, raising his fist to the sky.  “Until the rivers and plains run with the blood of Spain—may they weep as they fall to your blades!”

Mayne Lee reined the horses to a halt, stopping just short of the rain-swollen river that had already flooded the opposite plain, effectively cutting off his escape route to Spain.

Plain I was, to be sure; but even the unlovely could dream of romantic walks in the rain, of Spanish moss dripping from the trees as the night bloomed and melted over the land.

The vampire Spaen gently nuzzled her neck.  “There can be no escape.  For I have reigned over the plain and the mighty, the living and the dead, and even the grave has not stayed my desire for you.”

The rain in Spanish Harlem was now different than that which fell in New York City proper.  Everyone knew it, though no one could have guessed that the deadly contrails left by criss-crossing planes were responsible.

“S’pain, m’dear.”  His leering smile hovered above her, plainly excited, as he tightened the raw ropes around her wrist.  “Pain, pure and simple as the patter o’ the rain upon me roof—the last sound you’ll ever hear.”

“Spane!  Spane!” the young boy cried, falling to his knees as he chased the gunslinger across the rain-weary plain.  “Come back, Spane!  Come back!”

Yes, I know, shame on me—but it was fun, lol.  And if you’ve got a sec, feel free to add on.  Keywords–rain, Spain, plain, or any spelling or derivation thereof. 

Lately I’ve been experiencing some kind of void. I think it’s due to my recent illness and the fact that I’m just plain old tired all the time. That and I really need to get laid.

(Oh who said that?)

So. Anyway. I blogged about this the other day on my personal blog, but I think it bears mentioning again. Mostly because after some time thinking about this Deep Dark Void I seem to be in, I’ve come up with some answers. For me, there are certain types of writer’s block. And I think it boils down to this. If Michelle isn’t happy, then The Muse isn’t happy.

Seriously.

There has to be a certain amount of balance in my little universe for The Muse to decide to come out and play. And lately, my universe has not been balanced, what with the bloody head cold I just got over. That and the fact that I always push myself to the absolute brink of exhaustion. I hit the wall this past week and the writing suffered.

It’s because I’m a here-and-now kind of gal. And I need to have things DONE and quickly. Why else would I have all new appliances, two rooms painted (and paint purchased for a third), new blinds and curtains for every window (and installed) in the house I just bought and moved into at the end of September?

…and it helps to have some other physical activity besides just painting and hanging blinds…

But I digress.

The point is…I’ve discovered something about myself. And that is I have to achieve balance in some form or fashion before I achieve writing.

So what about you? Does your Muse refuse to play if you’re having a bad day? How do you push through the blockage? (ew, that sounds kinda gross, actually…)

So I have been coming down with a cold/the flu and over the weekend it came in with a vengence, so I holed myself up in my room with a passel of DVD’s and let the DH tend to the two sickies that followed my into germ-town (both of whom are still ill, but I at least see the Kleenex-free tunnel quite well–but I digress…)

I was watching The Lake House (Sandra Bullock–Kate {I heart Sandra} and Keanu Reeves–Alex). Don’t know if you have seen the movie or not, but there is a scene with Alex and his dad–there are really only two in the entire movie so it’s not hard to narrow down–think backless gown. They are talking, or rather dancing around talking and Alex stops, looks at the older man and says with major emphasis, “Dad!”

Don’t know why that moment stopped me, but hearing the son call to his father, use the name so many of us do, that made me flash to many of my books. I thought through all the WIPs I could come up with on the top of my head. In all but one story, there’s no dad(s). Only one of my hero’s has a father still living–well Her Passion, I supposed the parents are still living, I don’t know that I ever even mentioned them. Odd.

Do I have issues with my dad? I’m guessing so. Why else would a writer habitually leave out an intrigal part of the family dinamics?

I do have two hero’s that are dad’s so obviously I am not opposed to male influences on their children. But still, I thought it interesting I have a serious lack of paternal dinamics for my Heroes. I am going to make a point to add this in the next story I work on.

What do you think? Do you habitually construct your worlds with one major influence always the same? Tell me…

I was over at Bernitas reading her blog topic on Saturday about description and detail and I left a comment about a book I picked up while I was f*cking with the computer this weekend (but that’s another long bitch for a later day). The one thing I noticed in this book is that the writer uses lots of descriptors–big, hunky, hot, etc. To the point they’re annoying me and I’m only 45 pages in but I’m not sure I’ll finish the book. Stick with me…my other big complaint is that right after the first sex scene the hero says someting along the lines of, “I think I….” and the heroine tells him not to finish his statement–in other words he was going to say I think I’ve fallen for you.

Yes, a hero can fall for a heroine in the first 20 or so pages and yes descriptors are nice but the one thing I realized while over at Bernita’s is that this is why TELLING IS VERY BAD.

Now, as writers we know this. We know it’s important to show the reader instead of telling the reader. We see telling all the time and we know La Nora does it and gets away with it, hell I’ve even done it myself and it works great for segues from scene to scene.

It can be done (telling) and it can work but it CAN’T be done when all you’re trying to do is convince the reader that apples are orange and bananas are blue. Some readers will believe you, but some will be put off even if they don’t know why.

Don’t tell me how wonderful your characters’ date was, SHOW ME. Don’t tell me your heroine is scared, SHOW ME. Don’t tell me how big your hero’s equipment is, SHOW ME :D

If you want me to believe in the world/story you’ve created and that the sky is pink you have to SHOW ME. Draw me in, make me believe the world you’ve created, enchant me.

“Lord, give me patience…and I need it NOW.”

It’s an old saying, and I’ve heard it many times.  It always rings true.

And for some reason, I always thought that the older I got, the more patient I’d become.  Like, maybe it was supposed to go hand-in-hand with all the wisdom and other virtues I’ve accumulated. 

I’m not finding it to be true.  Maybe THAT’S because I’m also becoming more aware of time passing.  Not that I’m worried about that or anything… 

Maybe it’s all the WAITING that gets on my nerves.

I hate waiting.  Waiting in line, in restaurants, for repairmen, for doctors.  And we’re constantly told to be patient, that we must learn to wait.  Good things are supposed to come from waiting, after all.

We’re supposed to be proactive about it, but we’re even supposed to wait for Mr. Right. 

Slow and sure is the way to go.  Keep your pantyhose on and keep at it.

Especially when it comes to writing.

It’s the name of the game.  Yes, you’re supposed to put your stuff out there, hang onto your hope and faith about it, become involved in other projects—but somewhere in the back of your mind…

You know.  You still wait.  And wait.  And wait.  And wait.

If it all pans out, it’s worth it, of course.

If not?  Ah, well…

You put more stuff out there.  And you wait.

Can’t speak for anyone else, and yes, I understand the sheer proportions, the complex machinery behind it all, and yes, I know it’s not a good idea to have what you want come to you when you’re not really ready—but it still drives me freaking nuts.

Anybody else feel this way, at least sometimes?  Does waiting for things make you crazy?

Feel free to comment.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait. 

It could be somewhat perilous for an author to kill off characters. Don’t you think? I mean, there are rumors that JK is going to axe Harry Potter. After all, she would never get any peace if she didn’t because folks would want her to continue to write his story.

And who was the famous mystery writer that killed off his main character and it outraged readers so much, he had to revive him? I can’t remember.

Anyway. The point is…sometimes, you just gotta take ‘em out. But how? I mean, if you have a secondary character you eighty-six in the story, does that mean that character wasn’t necessary to the plot of the story after all? I wonder about this.

And the reason I’m wondering about this is because I have a character in one of my books I’m considering giving the heave-ho to. So I wonder - IS this character necessary to the plot? I mean, he sort of is. He is an integral part in the backstory (which of course is NOT an info dump - har har) and he effectively shapes the current events of the story. But when #1 Bad Guy gets wind he’s still alive, well, our villain wants him six feet under.

And fast.

So I intend to murder him - in the most vicious and villainous way as only our Baddie can do.

So, readers, does it piss you off when an author kills off a character (even a secondary one)? Or do you cheer the hero on that much more?

…being rejected could sound so nice.

I recently submitted three books to four different houses. One I never heard back from AT ALL so I subbed it elsewhere. One has moved on to the next round of “lemme think about this” and the last was asked to be edited some before they could really consider it.

I edited, they considered, but in the end, they decided to pass, as they weren’t thrilled with how my heroine handled one situation (they like kick-butt heroines and mine are usually just a hair less aggressive) but the letter they sent to reject me was actually quite nice and made me feel pretty good about my writing. How often can you say that???

To say the letter was sweet might be overdoing it a tad, but the editor was quite complimentary about my style/voice. She even said she will probably end up regretting not taking it–that has to be the nicest thing I have heard aside from “We’d like to offer you a contract.”

I will definitly think of them if I can ratchet up my heroines to a little more kick-butt gumption.

Has anyone ever made you feel good getting turned down? (Like I said, this was a first for me!)

About a week ago I asked Raine to read the first 100 or so pages about TCRA (yes I’m blogging about THAT BOOK again, but I have a point) while keeping in mind that I wasn’t sure I was telling the right story. I quickly laid out an alternative scenario that meant scrapping most of the book, which is actually something I’ve been thinking about for a year.

Anyway, this weekend I got her read back and she said it was fine but if I really felt that I might not be telling the best story, to write a chapter or two of my alternative story and find out if it worked. So I did. I ended up cranking out 18 pages (most of it new) on Sunday. I, of course, sent the first ten or so to Raine and asked her what she thought. She said it was better, but of course it’s my choice whether I stick with the new or go back to the old and I said, “I’m afraid if I don’t do this I won’t be telling the best story I can. But it’s daunting (thinking of starting from scratch).”

Remember this is my first manuscript and a lot has changed about my writing in four years. The first version has a lot more internalization so you can feel it more, but the second version is more sparse and has more movement.

I guess my point is don’t be afraid of things like this because there’s more than one way to tell a story. Neither is wrong, nor right. They’re just different. Sometimes it’s not just about cutting your darlings, it’s about burying them! :D
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