W is for Work, Hard Work!

Hard work on top of hard work.  Sometimes that’s what’s required to achieve our dreams.

Tortured Hero Blog Hop & V is for Vital Wound

Tortured heroes…why do we love them so much?  Why do we hope they will find their happily ever after and begin to heal?

I have to admit, as an author, I have a little sadistic streak in me when it comes to my characters.  If I didn’t, their story wouldn’t be nearly as interesting.  Who wants to read about perfect people in perfect situations who are already perfectly happy? Bo-ring, I say.

I’d rather read about that journey towards healing.  So every one of my heroes has a vital wound.  For Lawrence, my hero in No Man’s Mistress But Mine, his wound stems from guilt over not being able to protect people he loved in his past–and those people ultimately coming to harm.

For Mark, my hero in “The Love Letter,” (Jane Austen Made Me Do It) his wound stems from the resentment in his own heart, one that festers and begins to infect his entire outlook on life.  Until he can forgive the woman he loves, the woman who crushed his heart six years before, he cannot heal.

For my current work in progress, my hero, Adam, has a strong fear of addiction, because of his past.  He’s very disciplined and control is very important to him, both self-control and control over the situations around him. But when he ultimately begins to lose control of his own heart, his wound prevents him from finding his happily ever after, until he can finally allow himself to relinquish that control and learn to live with it and be happy.

Vital wounds are so important to our heroes.  Wounds give them strength and dimension… and, ultimately, a reason to fall in love with their heroines.  It might make me a sadist, but hey, I say, anything for the sake of a good story.

What types of heroes are your favorites to read about?

Literary Allusion

For a long time now, I’ve been wanting to fit in a reference to William Wordsworth, Cumbrian poet and English literary icon, into my work-in-progress.  He and his sister are such fixtures to the history of the Lakes District and especially in this time period (early Regency) that I couldn’t resist.  But I could never find the opportunity to do so and so tucked the idea away in the back of my mind.

As I slogged through the latest revisions of the manuscript, however, I learned how to take a problem and turn it into an opportunity.  Here was my chance to allude to Wordsworth in my Historical Romance novel set squarely in the middle of the county of Cumberland and the stunning vistas of the Lakes District.  And I found the most perfect poem to do it with.

In the scene in question, the heroine is demonstrating to the hero how he should properly court a woman and begins to quote from this poem as an example.  The hero rightly points out that this poem is not so much about the woman’s outer beauty–the “dancing shape” but about the inner woman within and so would not be appropriate to use upon first meeting someone.

This poem, written by Wordsworth for his wife and published in 1804 is truly heart-melting and swoon-worthy.  To say that a face, a countenance is lovely and “a moment’s ornament” is to compliment the most obvious level of a person.  But to sense and truly know the “pulse of the machine” and look beneath the lovely surface to the woman underneath to see a “Being breathing thoughtful breath, A traveler between Life and Death.”

It’s much like writing a romance–the hero and heroine are initially attracted (or sometimes not) by what they see, but the true story, the true romance is about learning what lies underneath the surface and falling in love with it.  That’s why I like writing romance.

Listen to the amazingly talented actor (one of my favorites), Michael Sheen read the poem:

Celebrating Creativity

“Maybe, at the base of it… what creativity really is [is] just falling in love with the world” –Dewitt Jones

Some useful lessons to be learned about creativity:

• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  Learn from them but also turn them to your advantage.

• There is never just one right answer.  Find the one (or several) that works best for you

• Break out of your self-imposed ruts and patterns.  Learn how to switch it up by straying from your comfort zone.

• Take your problems and turn them into opportunities.

• Find and hone your technique.  “Vision without technique is blind”

• Care deeply about what you are working on and put everything into it

• Be willing to look beyond the ordinary and see something special.

A while back, I was in a large group professional development class put on by our school district.  Like most any profession, corporate training (what we teachers call professional development) is a tedious but necessary part of the job.  Teachers are also lifelong learners.

Fortunately, this corporate trainer knew when to pull out the big guns and attract everyone’s attention with a discussion about creativity and looking at problems and situations from a different angle.  The training video he showed us was “Celebrate What’s Right With The World,” featuring National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones.

To say my socks were blown off was an understatement.  In the video, Dewitt talks about focusing on the positive in the world and in every situation, using that positivity to work around obstacles and begin to see them as opportunities.

Dewitt shared his amazing photographs taken during his time with National Geographic and afterwords, relaying the stories behind them and  truisms about how creativity is summoned from within, even when we think that well has run dry.

In “Everyday Creativity,” another one of his training films, he talks about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.  The bullet list above is from my notes from watching this film.  Key concepts are blow:

View Dewitt Jones and his amazing photographs on Pinterest.

http://www.celebratewhatsright.com

My Writer’s Library

I don’t have a lot of storage space at my house.  We live in a modest but very comfortable home with two rambunctious children and lots of stuff.  Probably too much stuff.  But I wanted to dedicate one quiet corner, near my writing space for my writing resources.

I loved the idea of having supplies and research available at my fingertips to consult when I need so I created my “little library” inspired by my writing friend, Tessa Dare‘s writing office.  I don’t have an office but I have a large bedroom with a second-hand recliner nearby that makes a comfortable writing chair.  So I cleared out a bookshelf in the bottom of my closet and created “Bren’s Writing Lair”(tm).

Above the top shelf (pictured above), I have my supplies and “go to” writer’s references (the ones I find myself pulling because they are most relevant to what I’m working on).  I have my pens, white-out, pencils, erasers, LOTS of sticky notes,  4 x 6 index cards, scissors, tape and glue sticks, etc.  I also always have a “running notebook” full of notes and back-story, planning materials, etc.  For the work-in-progress, I also store this on the top shelf.On the shelves, I keep my historical and subject-relevant resources.  Most of these pertain to the Regency period, English 18th and 19th century history and culture, geographical information (I have a historical atlas that I’m particularly proud of).  There are Royal Navy resources as well.  Not just because I’m writing about Navy Heroes but also because the RN from this period really interests me.  There are some of the often-named “go-to” regency resources as well, such as Georgette Heyer’s Regency World, An Elegant Madness, What Jane Austen Knew and Charles Dickens Ate, along with some other treasures I’ve scooped up, like: In the Garden with Jane Austen, Tea with Jane Austen, The Lady’s Strategem, and Courtesans.

On the picture above this one, you’ll notice a brown bin on the bottom shelf.  In this are my not-as-frequently consulted writing craft books and all of my manuscript pages (for at least 3 different versions) of my recently-completed Regency novel.  I’m keeping the pages as a resource until they are no longer needed (hopefully once to book is published).  They will then be happily recycled.  Under them in the bin are the craft books that I own in paper version.  I own many more in eBook format.  I took a picture of the spines to give you an idea.Three of the newest additions to my library, of which I am extremely proud! Life in Nelson’s Navy, Our Tempestuous Day, and The Epicure’s Almanack.

My Christmas list this last year was made up only of books that I wanted and I told my family “I don’t care if it’s used, as long as I can read it!”  One of them is a former library book, which kind of makes me guilty every time I look at it, like I have some massive fine I owe, or something.  Some of these books are kind of hard to get so I was THRILLED that most of my list was filled (hint: If you plan to do the same thing, make sure you provide links to the books… makes it really easy for family members when they shop for you.)

Lastly, since I’m setting my historical novels in and around the historical county of Cumberland (which is now known as Cumbria), I was extremely astonished to learn the existence of this book, The Cumbrian Dictionary.  I was absolutely over the moon when I discovered I could procure a copy for myself.  It has proved an amazing resource.

So what does your writing space / reference storage look like?  Feel free to post a photo link or description in the comments!

2012 wrap-up

I’ve been absent from here for quite some time but I am pleased to say that I haven’t been idle.  So much has happened both in my personal life and with my writing-career that it has threatened to make my head spin.

After a few months of querying, pitching and adjusting my manuscript “just so,” signing release forms, submitting sample pages, partial manuscripts and “fulls” to agents (and editors) I was offered representation by more than one agent in October.  It was a tremendous boost to my confidence and a very exciting time.  And after being the recipient of several dozen rejections, I found myself in the awkward position of having to be the rejector.

There were so many factors that went into my decision to select the agent whom I did.  Mostly, I knew it had to be someone with whom I would work well, who had similar goals for my writing career and who was willing to guide me with his/her professional knowledge towards those goals.  For me, the choice of an agent is the choice of a mature, professional relationship based on respect.

So, I’m thrilled to announce after several months, that I am enthusiastically represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates Literary Agency.

Major 2012 goal achieved!  * Happy Dance *

Speaking of goals achieved.  I’d like to spend the rest of this post looking at the remainder of my 2012 goals and how well I did.  All in all I’d say it was a pretty successful year and, most importantly, I see marked progress towards my ultimate goal of becoming a published author.  I may not have achieved every single one of them.  Many of them were not written in the SMART format, unfortunately, but I maintain that goal setting is ultimately beneficial, even if one tiny step towards one goal is achieved.

My Literary Goals for 2012

Works-Related Goals

1. Finish Violette Final Draft and Polished Done
2. Plotting/prep/research for Project #2: Rutherford’s story (Lily) Done
3. Plotting/prep/research for Project #3: Steampunk Thuria 2/28/12 Goal shifted to new contemporary project: In Progress
4. Enter partial of Rutherford’s story and/or Steampunk Thuria in Orange Rose Contest 2012  Done (Entered revised Violette instead)
5. Enter at least one manuscript in the RWA Golden Heart Contest Not Done (Opted out this year for several reasons)

Craft-Related Goals

1. Attend RWA National Conference in Anaheim, California Done and one other writing conference Not Done
2. Read 1 book on craft per month In progress
3. Write 100 x 100 (a minimum of 100 words per day for at least 100 days in a row. Not Done
4. Maintain my shared writing goal calendar weekly with my fabulous crit partner Not Done
5. Maintain the pyramid (knowledge, time and enthusiasm) while writing.  Not Done (i.e. recording word counts)

Inspiration-Related Goals

1. Read 2-3 novels per month Done
2. Carry a notebook wherever I go. Done
3. Get out into nature at least 1-2 times per month. Not Done
4. Go on a writer’s retreat. Not Done
5. Keep healthy. Not Done

Progress Towards Publication Goals

1. Draft Query Letter for Violette Done
2. Develop spreadsheet to track query progress Done
3. Query 5-10 agents per month. Done
4. Practice pitch for Violette and related projects Done
5. Pitch to agents/editors at conferences and RWA meetings Done

Shout outs to Writing Friends!

Part of belonging to the wonderful organization that is the Romance Writers of America involves making friends of all kinds.  If you are a writer, there are few more supportive organizations than RWA, no matter what genre you write.

So this blog post is giving props to some of my friends who have had so many wonderful successes lately!

First off, there is my wonderful critique partner, Kate McKinley (whom I interviewed here).  She has recently sold a 3-book deal to Grand Central Forever Yours.  Here’s a blurb about it just posted on the Romantic Times Web Site:

Historical Romance – Time to don your corset and petticoats because author Kate McKinley is taking readers to a house party in Regency England. The yet-to-be titled anthology will let readers discover all of the guests’ secrets, by allowing us to see the entire event through three different couples in three interconnected novellas. On your mark, get ready, and flirt!

Other mentions:  Three  writer friends were nominated for RT Historical Romance Reader’s Choice awards.  Tessa Dare (whom I interviewed here) for her nomination in Historical Romance of the Year and Historical Love and Laughter.  [Her novel, A WEEK TO BE WICKED, was also listed as one of the Best Books of 2012!] Congratulations to Jennifer Haymore for her nomination in Regency-Set Historical Romance. And Jillian Stone (whom I interviewed here) for her nomination in Historical Romantic Adventure.

Also wonderful news for Beth Yarnall.  She sold her second novel, HAIR SPRAYED HARD AND PUT AWAY FOREVER to Entangled Publishing for publication in 2014!  And Louisa Bacio continues to burn up the publishing industry with her hot paranormals and sexy contemporaries.

Lastly, I also have some wonderful news to share but will heighten your suspense by saving it for another day.  Let’s just say things are moving and shaking–and I’m no longer sending out query letters!

Make Good Art

Leg chewed off by mutant boa constrictor?  MAKE GOOD ART.

Cat exploded?  MAKE GOOD ART.

Words of wisdom from one of my favorite living authors: