The Gab Wagon

RWA Needs 2B Proactive

2009-07-10T14:38:00.001-07:00

I’m going to RWA’s National conference this coming week, and I was going to leave Friday evening to come home, but I answered the call for volunteers, and I’m moderating a workshop on Friday AND Saturday. I’ve got a jam-packed schedule, but there’s one circus I won’t miss, and that’s the AGM, where members are trying to get the Board to support a resolution for change in RWA.

I support several of the changes in the document that’s being presented at the meeting, although I don’t agree with the wording of the resolution. But at the heart of the matter, I do support the change these RWA members are attempting to make within the organization. However, I do have a STRONG problem with one issue related to the proposed changes. The changes being requested have been shaped not only by RWA members, but by NON-RWA members too. These non-members appear to have had a lot of say in the development of the things they want to see changed in the organization.

I’ve always spoken up for policy change in RWA. I also firmly believe in and support the dissemination of information to ALL published authors no matter their publication medium. However, I have to confess that I resent individuals who are trying to shape RWA policy without paying RWA dues. And there are SEVERAL people doing this, people I know from different loops who over the years have sneered at RWA on a regular basis. Now I’ve sneered at RWA, but I’ve PAID for that right, these other individuals haven’t. It’s like that old adage, if you don’t vote, you don’t get to complain. In this case, if you don’t belong, you don’t get a say in policy change. Put your money where your mouth is.

I strongly believe that allowing non-RWA members offer up commentary on RWA policy change weakens the position of those working toward a change. Small press/ePub authors already have a hard row to hoe without the input of individuals who don't belong. It seriously negates the validity of the resolution that's being proposed. It would be like me going into a business I don't have stake in and helping someone develop new operational guidelines WITHOUT the organization paying me as a qualified consultant.

One of the things I've advocated for over the years has been one thing. INFORMATION. I've not always been succinct about it, but it's always been at the heart of every arguement I've made about RWA. I firmly believe that many of these brouhahas, could be eliminated or reduced to a whisper if RWA woull just give members information. When people know the full story, they either will understand and not protest OR they'll put their heads together and come up with a way that can make a policy change work (something RWA Change is really trying to do).

I understand there are certain rules the organization has to follow, but unless I know what the scenarios are related to those rules, I’m operating in the dark when I support or protest policy change. Not only that, but RWA is expecting me to just sit back and let the Board decide what's best for me. Ummm, I'm an adult, I don't need a mother.

So….determined to make the Board hear me, I wrote a lengthy email outlining why I think RWA needs to get its act together. By that, I mean I that instead of being reactive every time a bruhahaha erupts on the loops or outside of the loops, the Board needs to proactively provide solid documentation on the RWA website that explains why things are the way they are.

For example, the RITAs are a big bone of contention for a lot of ePub authors. I’ve said here that it pisses me off that outsiders can enter the RITAs, but small press/ePub authors can’t unless their book meets certain criteria. Natalie pointed out in one of our discussions that there was a reason for outsiders to enter the contest. I don't recall whether she knew the specific details or not, but I sure as hell don't remember what they are even if she explained it, which brings me right back to the issue I harp on constantly. INFORMATION. Why is it so difficult for the organization to provide it?? Particularly in this day and age.

We've got an organizational website, why the hell don't we use it. *banging head on desk* Let's face it, in an organization of 10K+ members, people are going to forget this and that, and unless the organization has a solid history archive, there’s no way in hell people are going to remember, let alone understand, why a certain policy has been written the way it is. It makes Board members come across as villians when they keep saying, "Imagine what would happen..." (can't tell you how TIRED I am of hearing that frigging phrase). Lack of information only creates headaches for everyone, people who want the status quo, people who want change, Board members, RWA staff.

So I informed the Board that they needed to save themselves and future Board members a lot of headache by using the RWA website for what it’s designed for, INFORMATION. I stated they needed to put up basic information for members that Board members, past Board members and other members could point to that explain policy shaping decisions. Of course, it can also serve to shoot holes in policy decisions down the road too, which is a good thing. It means the organization can grow and stay ahead of the curve. And it can eliminate a LOT of rumors, because it would be under member resources and anyone could verify the facts, thus pointing out where a change can be made or can't be made.

Here's a fictious example of a Historical Archive Entry that could be listed on the website.

ITA Contest Policy Change 1999
Jane Doe threatened to sue RWA because her entry wasn’t eligible for the contest. Jane Doe alleged that RWA rigs the contest by keeping non-RWA members out. Under advice of legal counsel, and to comply with Federal law, contest rules were changed to allow non-members to participate for XXX fee, which is higher than the membeship contest fee. Contest rules were subsequently changed to reflect this policy change.

That’s all it takes, just a brief, layman’s term explanation. I mean who’s going to argue with that? Ok, someone will, but the romance writers I know are reasonable people. I know the four of us here are smart, savvy women. We’d GET something like this. It’s logical. We might not like it, but we'd be railing at Jane Doe and the government, not RWA.

While I do believe there is a them vs. us mentality in the organization, I don’t think that’s ever going to go away. Let's face it, no matter how generous and thoughtful and kind romance writers are, it's a competitve business. Business always a bit of a hard edge to it. HOWEVER, if the membership has information out there that does or doesn’t support a particular policy POV, it gives members leverage in bringing change to the organization. Change that will benefit EVERYONE, and by everyone, I mean that the change can be positive, but it might not be the change some people (on either side of the fence) expect.

So I'm hoping the Board will take my suggestion to heart. I think that brouhahas are always a pain, particularly when they might be avoided if RWA would JUST SHOW US THE INFORMATION on why policy is what it is. It's logical, it's smart, and it's common sense.

Fast, Faster, Fastest

2009-07-08T19:33:00.000-07:00

Time after time I hear readers ask authors to write faster. Most of us wish we could.

Nora Roberts publishes on average five books a year. For her it takes typically forty-five days. For others producing a novel takes months to a year. I can't tell you how many authors I've chatted with that are two years into their book.

There is always an issue between quality and quantity. I think we can all agree we would rather see quality then quantity. Not that both can't be obtained (as Nora shows us), but if we have to choose it would be quality.

Yet, tonight I want to talk quantity. Are you a prolific writer? How many words have you written in a day? How long does it take you to write a full length novel (65k and above)? How many books do you published a year?

I wrote Fallon's Revenge in one month. Lisa's Gift in three and a half weeks. Of course, it's also took me three months to write A Warrior's Witch which was only 18K. A Very Faery Christmas (15K) took me three days.

This weekend I put my nose to the grindstone and wrote 20k words in four days. That's an average of 5k a day! Actually I wrote 5k Thursday, 4.75k Friday, 6.25 Saturday, and Sunday I followed it up with 4k. I have to admit that I was floored by my achievement. In yet it didn't come without some cost.

Not only did I ignore the family this long weekend, I'm still suffering. My memory is shot. I can't pay attention to what I need to do and I'm exhausted. Since Sunday I've only written 1k. Some of that is that I work a fulltime job and by the time I get home I have no energy. Then of course there is the family to feed, animals to take care of, and the list goes on.

I'd love to hear your goals, successes, and if you've paid any prices for lighting the keys on fire. So let's chat.

Mac

I'm Growing Tired of Politics...

2009-07-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

..no, not our country's politics but Romance Writers of America.

I'm gearing up to attend the conference next week. Part of the conference is the organization's annual general meeting. I know that lately there's been some flack and discontent among members - meaning I know about it, that it exists, but I'm not immersed in it or even aware of all the issues. Shame on me, right?

Years ago, I was greatly interested in the politics of the organization and greatly invested. To such an extent, I considered running for the National board. In fact, I was asked to step in by the then President when a board member had resigned before her term was up. No more. While I can't say I couldn't care less, I certainly don't care like I used to.

There are several reasons for this. One, my writing schedule is twice as demanding as it used to be, giving me far less free time. For anyone who's ever been remotely involved with RWA National politics, you will understand when I tell you that the emotional and physical toll is excruciating. It's a wonder the board members survive. It's a wonder they have a writing career left to go back to when their term is up.

Two, I weathered some extremely turbulent times in RWA's history while I was serving on the board of a local chapter. This included when Howard Lowery and, later, Tara Taylor Quinn were president. If any of you reading this post were members of RWA during those times, you know what I'm talking about. At one point during Howard's reign, I didn't go a day without receiving a call from an irate or incensed chapter member with an ax to grind and who refused to be satisfied until they'd bent my ear for a good thirty minutes. Trust me, it gets old after a while.

Three, I served on the Awards Ceremony Committee during the infamous Reno conference. Again, if you were a member and attended that conference, you know what hell I went through.

Four, I've unsubscribed from most of the email loops. In part because I'm busy and don't have time to read them. In part because I'm weary of the same argument being rehashed over and over (okay - I'm ducking rotten tomatoes about now). And in part because the ongoing negativity is just too damaging to my fragile emotional balance. All right, the last bit was said with my tongue in my cheek but it's still true.

Last, my perspective has changed. I've come to realize and accept that the organization can't and never will give me every little thing I want and need. It does, however, offer many valuable perks, including the ability to attend a National conference and meet with the people who can and have changed my life, like editors, agents, fellow authors and friends.

I agree that change is good and certainly needed from time to time. I also realize that it won't happen unless people become motivated enough to demand change. I wouldn't mind being part of that change. But before I can, I need for the battle to become less "us against them" and more "united in a common goal" so that I can weather it without it sapping me of every last drop of my energy like it has in the past.

Cathy Mc

Why We Write What We Do

2009-07-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

I kind of assume that for the majority of people who write for a living, they do it because it's in their blood. By talent or training or both, words are their "thing."

But for the readers out there who are authors, why, specifically, did you choose fiction? And why the kind of fiction you write?

I thought I chose it simply because I like to read it more. I'm talented and trained in writing nonfiction, too, but I don't have much interest in reading it, and keep my writing of it to a minimum. But I was thinking about this more intently, and realized that the primary reason I love fiction is that it allows us to be who we're not, whether we're writers or readers.

Forget "write what you know." I write what I want to be, but only kinda.

In real life...

I hate guns. I see the need for them in certain arenas, and I'm not totally anti-gun, but there's too much negative associated with them. Other weapons take a lot more skill and effort to do damage with. Guns can kill a lot of people very quickly, and it's much easier to accidentally shoot someone than anything else. I believe in the right to defend yourself, but a loaded gun in the house is too dangerous (especially if you have kids), and an unloaded gun that's locked away might as well not exist.

But man, are guns sexy in fiction. I write romantic adventure, so my characters regularly use them. And almost every TV show I love has them. Sam and Dean would be sexy without ever carrying a gun on Supernatural, but they add a layer of power that's intoxicating--even when the guns just contain salt. And a woman with a gun is just as sexy--in fiction.

In real life...

I am generally nonconfrontational and bruise easily. When provoked far enough, I'll fight my battles, but I don't like dealing with people when it's pleasant and happy, never mind over something horrible. And I have a "stain" on my shin where I slid on a rug when running down the hall at work and slammed into the doorjamb. Three years ago.

It's therefore logical that my heroines kick ass and brush off injury as if a dislocated shoulder barely tickles.

In real life...

I'm not much into travel. I like visiting other places, but getting there is a chore. Driving is soooo tedious, and while I like flying, it's too expensive, so I rarely do it. However, my characters are always in a car or on a plane. I have four recent books that take place all over hell and gone.

In real life...

Real life interferes. Every year for the last, like, decade, my husband and I have tried to plan a camping trip. Pinning down a weekend that works has been impossible, and we eventually gave up. We haven't had the tent or camp stove out in forever, so probably all our equipment has deteriorated beyond use.

Plus, camping = bugs.

And finally, there's always...

Falling in love. In real life, I have zero interest in going back to that world. My husband is perfect for me, so even if those guys on my List came around, I'd say thanks, but no thanks. (I think.) But in my books, I can fall in love over and over again. I can mold a heroine into a person I think I'd like to be if I wasn't me, and mold a guy or two into the one who's perfect for her, and experience the thrills (and sure, even the frustrations) of their journey.

Especially if it involves guns, fights, and no bugs.

~~~~~~~~~~
So how about you? What does writing enable you to do/be that you aren't in real life? And if that's not part of the appeal of writing fiction, why do you do it?

Blurbs and Money, Oh My!

2009-07-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

I got an email from my editor on Monday. In the email, she said she was sorry that she forgot to get “this” to me (meaning the attachment). I barely glance at the attachment name, and as I skim the short email, a line pops out at me that reads along the lines of ‘I don’t think this really works for the setup of the series.”

IMMEDIATELY, my heart slams into my chest. O-M-G, she's talking about the Book 1 of the series. She hates the book. I’m going to have to rewrite the entire book. I almost didn’t open up the attachment because I didn’t want to see what my editor had to say as to why the book was so bad….but I bit the bullet and opened the attachment.

The minute it opens in Word, I almost passed out. It was the cover blurb copy for the paranormal series that she wasn’t happy with. Talk about getting on my knees and weeping for joy! So I then read the cover blurb. And Cindy was RIGHT! Great Balls of Fire this copy totally sucked. THIS is where one understands why some books DO NOT fit the cover copy.

Anyway, Cindy asked me to take a look at the copy and makes changes. I spend most of Monday night doing rewrites, trying to figure out how to do a Readers Digest version of the book. Somehow I managed and I sent it off to her, taglines and all. She wrote back and said it looked good. Then she said she didn’t like the title I’d suggested. It was a bit too blah (my words not hers). She suggested something else, so I pondered it, and then realized that we’d both be satisfied with the title. Reason we'd both be satisfied was because she wanted a specific word and I wanted another specific word. So we married the two together.

Ta DUM!! New Title

Assassin’s Honor, Book 1 of The Order of the Sicari series.

I haven’t been told it’s “Official,” but I feel it's official enough to post here.I know that in ePub I wrote my own blurbs and taglines all the time. It was just what you do. But I didn’t realize I’d have a little bit of control over my blurbs for a NY book. I LOVE that my editor is so open and flexible. It feels like a great partnership I’m building with her.

Show Me Da Money

I turned in Kismet back in February. Sometime in March, my editor informed me via email that she loved it the way it was and would only have line edits. So I waited, waited and waited some more. No line edits. So I just happened to mention to my agent that my editor had indicated there would only be line edits and Deidre said, well that’s D&A (delivery and acceptance). Let’s see where your check is.

So yesterday I get a nice email from the agency’s accountant who says, “LOOK what we have for you!!” Once more I’m on my knees weeping for joy. I don’t have to worry about lumping the National OUTRAGEOUS hotel bill onto a credit card. That puppy’s going on American Express and earning POINTS. LOL I will probably be conservative and change my arrival from Tue to Wed to save almost $300 If I leave Wed morning around 9am, I’ll be there at 11am and I should be able to get into a room, or at the least just park the car and keep things in there until I can get into my room. Book signings not until 5:30pm anyway.

WOOT!

For those in the US, have a Happy (and Safe) 4th of July.

Refreshing...

2009-07-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I made a comment about my local RWA group. In the resent years I have become less than enthusiastic in attending meetings. Some of the reasons were personal (health, work, and family issues), while others were the content of the meetings.

Last night I attend my local RWA meeting and I have to admit that I really enjoyed myself. Why? Because I had the opportunity to speak to several aspiring writers whose enthusiasm was simply a breath of fresh air. I loved their excitement, the twinkle in their eyes, and listening to their hope and fears.

There is so much to be said about networking. A local writing group can provide the friendship, support and education a writer needs to advance his/her personal and career goals. A good writer's group is invaluable, while a bad one can sour a person's desire and creative flow (but only if you allow it).

Another thing I noticed last night were so many different faces. As much as I enjoy meeting new people, I do have to say that I was sadden so many familiar faces were not in attendance. There appears to be an undercurrent that I'm trying to understand, because this chapter is filled with exceptional individuals who have a lot to offer in both friendship and support. Of course, summer time does play a part as many individuals are off on vacations.

If any of you have experienced a shift lately in your writing groups I'd be curious to hear about it. Is it the economy? Is it the time of year? Is it the weather? *g*

Putting that aside, I'm very thankful for the opportunity to meet the two woman I did last night. Their excitement rubbed off on me. I'll be attending each meeting with a brand new attitude, because I love seeing people achieve their goals.

Mac

So Many Questions

2009-06-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

If no one minds, I'm going to repost an interview I did a few days ago at the Harlequin American Authors Blog. It's a little lighter than the last couple of topics we've been discussing :)

Hello Everyone,

First, I want to thank the other Harlequin American authors for inviting me to participate in this interview. I had a lot of fun answering the questions. Secondly, please accept my apologies for posting late. I was on deadline for revisions on Taking on Twins, my next release, and couldn't seem to get everything done (darn day job).Well, here it goes. I tried to pick questions to answer that were the most fun because that's the kind of mood I'm in today.

1) What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?A honey bee. I was six, riding my bike down the street, laughing at something my brother said. The next thing I knew...mrumph, hack, cough, cough.Oh, you probably meant food I've eaten on purpose.

2) What comes first: the plot or the characters?For me, it's usually a very broad story idea that comes first, and I build on that. For instance, when I wrote His Only Wife, it was when Arizona was having its worst ever forst fire. I was driving on the highway, watching the fire in the distant mountains, and wondered what it would be like to be a wilderness firefighter caught between his job and duty to his family. From there, I begin thinking about the kind of people who would inhabit the story. The plot comes next, but it's bound closely to the characters and from then on, both develop simultaneously.

3) Do you re-read your books once they're in print?Ugh! No, I don't. By the time my book is in print, I've read it seven or eight or more times. They very idea of reading it again makes me break out in a severe case of hives. However, when I get my author copies, I read the back cover, all the front and back matter, the first couple of pages, and the last couple of pages. Then, I hug the book to my chest, close my eyes and squeal like a school girl.

4) If you were locked in a closet for one hour, who would you want in there with you?This is an easy question. No one. Between work and family and committments, I get so little time to myself, I'd relish being totally alone for an hour. If possible, I'd bring a good book and a book light.Which leads to...

5) What book are you reading now?I just finished Sandra Brown's "Play Dirty" and am ready to read Susan Elizabeth Phillip's latest.

6) Did you ever eat paste or Elmer's Glue when you were a kid?Yes, both.7) Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?Yes, I can absolutely taste the difference and only Pepsi will do. I can also taste the difference between paste and Elmer's Glue, and I much prefer paste.

7) Are you working on anything at the present you'd like to share?Yes, I'm working on something and, yes, I'd like to share (grin). My -- as yet untitled book -- is part of Harlequin American's first ever continuity. How cool is that? The story centers around the Codys, a modern-day western dynasty. My hero, Dusty, is the yongest son and a champion tie-down roper. While he's pure country, my heroine Maryanne, a marketing executive from L.A., is pure urbanite. The books will be out starting in July of 2010. I hope readers will like them!

Thanks ago for stopping by and checking out my interview, my friends. I would love to give away a free copy of my June release, Waiting for Baby, to one lucky poster here. I'll pick the winner next week.

All my best,

Cathy McDavid

Still an Uphill Battle

2009-06-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

I know a person--ONE person--who is not a writer who owns an eReader (the Sony). He loves it. He's definitely a representative user, someone who likes being on the forefront of technology.

Unfortunately...

I was listening to a podcast today. "PFW in Progress," the radio show featuring the staff of the Patriots Football Weekly newspaper. These are sports reporters, far, far removed from the world of romance, in which we are so (naturally) immersed.

One of the guys is another early adopter. He's always got the latest gadgets. His wife gave him a Sony eReader for their anniversary. The other three guys perked up--they wanted to know how good it is, because every single one of them was interested in getting one, either for themselves or for a wife.

I thought that was really cool. I admit, I don't stray far from my business world and social circle. All discussion on this topic is with other writers and the (very) occasional non-writer.

But then the big question came up: "How about the beach? Would you feel comfortable taking it near water or sand?"

Owner: "No, definitely not. Sand would be a disaster."

All the guys: "Oh, then forget it."

Guy 2: "All the reading I do is on vacation. What good is it? Not worth it."

So there's an unscientific stat: four out of five sports guys won't use an eReader 'cuz water and sand would destroy it.

Note: Fred, if you have a Google alert for PFW in Progress and see this post, feel free to let us know what you think of the eReader now that you've had it a couple of weeks!

This is why I don't see e-publishing increasing any faster than it has over the last decade. Yes, the money seems significant now--any time you hit "millions" in revenue, that seems significant, no matter how many companies it's spread across. But for every person who loves their eReader, there are four who don't find it practical. There ARE eReaders that are about half the price of the Kindle, but they're not very widely advertised. I've seen them in elite catalogs targeting people with lots of money who travel a lot. Monica predicts the market will explode when a $99 eReader becomes available, but I remain skeptical.

Will it be safe at the beach?

It's Summer Time

2009-06-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

What will you be doing this summer? Camping? Touring? Visiting relatives? Going off to some exotic country? No matter where you go or what you do there is writing material around every corner.

To me summer is a time to meet new people and explore new places. That means that I have new encounters to foster more ideas. How exciting is that?

For Father's Day my family took the King of our household to the mountains. The fresh air, the change of scenary, and all those strangers around me where just begging to crawl between the pages of one of my books.

My middle daughter just returned from a cruise where she shared several interesting stories. People I work with have already taken their vacations and have returned with beautiful pictures and ideas that are filling my head to the bursting point. (What a visual!)

So what do you have planned this summer? Better yet, how will you take advantage of what you see, hear, smell, or touch? And what about those readers who shy away from paper? I invite you to share your stories with me (mackenzie@mackenziemckade.com). I'd love to hear about your adventures. Who knows maybe you're my next character or perhaps your home town is just the place I've been looking for to write about. I'm dying to talk to someone from Maryland (fishing town).

As for me, my feet are itching to travel. If I didn't have to work and had all the money in the world, I'd be gone in a heartbeat. SBut for now I'll just travel through the back streets of my mind--make things up as I go along. *g*

Happy summer!

Mac

Cynicism

2009-06-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

The romance writing community is in an uproar again, over how RWA approaches its handling of e-publishers and e-published authors. As usual, I have a broad perspective on the issues, with some unhappiness with certain details and attitudes, but acceptance and embracing of the underlying philosophy.

But that's not what this post is about.

"RWA needs to wake up and smell the future."

"E-books are going to revolutionize reading!"

"The younger generation will embrace e-books because they grew up with technology!"

Sound familiar? If you've been anywhere near the discussion lately, you've heard this stuff. Guess where these quotes come from, though?

1997.

E-books are here to stay. I have no doubt of that. And they have some amazing value. But revolution? RWA falling to pieces over them? Ahhhh...no.

The excellence of new readers like Kindle, Sony, and Instead's Cool-er have definitely helped things, but their high costs put an automatic damper on their potential. And comfort with technology doesn't matter. My kids and their friends have no interest in reading e-books. My daughter likes the feel of how far she's come and how much she has left to the end of the book--359/402 at the top of the screen doesn't cut it. And a friend who worked primarily with high school and college students recently was floored to find that of the few who'd even heard of e-books, none of them knew anything existed beyond textbooks.

As far as I can tell, all any of the advancements have done is to increase the number of e-published authors. Kindle bestsellers match the list of hardback, trade, and mass market bestsellers, and it seems likely that the store model for Kindle will actually reduce exposure for those of us not published by traditional publishers who also offer their books as e-books.

There's a new group that set up this weekend called "RWAchange." They purport to be seeking a way to open RWA's eyes and expand the education and opportunity within the organization for e-published authors and those who want to learn more about that aspect of the industry.

I wish them well. I hope the group is made up of forward-thinking, professional people who honestly want to improve RWA and create dynamic tools of benefit to a great number of writers. I've been part of, and left, many similar groups that ended up spending all their time spewing hatred and personal gripes about how RWA done them wrong. That's not productive, or constructive, or beneficial in any way.

I look around to see how far we've come, and feel like we haven't moved at all.

Something Happened!!

2009-06-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

I got my cover!! I love it. It's got an old-school look to it, but with an updated MO. Mainly the heroine is in the position of power! SHE's on top!! LOL I love the script they used for the title, it has an elegant, sensual feel to it. I think I'm incredibly lucky. My agent LOVES it too!

And the tagline for the book that I got a while back is sheer perfection with this cover...

“Tell me, sir, if you were to win this wager,
what do you expect for your one night of pleasure?”

Warning - Sound Off Again

2009-06-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, I want to sound off a little today about my two local Romance Writers of America chapters. I love them dearly, I really do. I've met some of my closest friends through the chapters and some of my best "writing related" memories are from events involving my chapters. But I find my interest in attending the meetings waning greatly over the last couple of years and profoundly over the last couple of months. I'm not alone, and the majority of the absentees are well-published authors (meaning those writing and selling LOTS of books) and NY published authors.

There are reasons for this trend, many of which I understand. It doesn't, however, stop the trend, and I find myself growing more and more frustrated. Here's the short list:

1) My friends don't come anymore so I don't have the pleasure of seeing them and bonding with them. Why aren't they coming? Like me, they have deadlines and sometimes it's a matter of priorities.

2) The programs don't interest me. I realize the membership is made up of all kinds of writers, from beginners to advanced but when the program is geared toward beginner writers or the speaker is someone I've heard multiple times in the past, I see no point in attending. Especially when I'm under deadline and my friends aren't going, either (see above).

3) I dislike the venue (okay, this is true for only one of my chapters just because we recently changed venues or I would have said both).

4) Here's my biggest gripe (yes, I realize chapter mates are going to read this so I'm ducking in advance). Not enough fanfare is made out of authors selling. Meeting after meeting, more and more time is spent on authors getting to read reviews of their latest books, members getting to promote their online workshops or classes they're giving, members talking about their latest rejection from a publisher or agent or their latest contest final (or failure to final).

Now, don't get me wrong, it's important for the members to share. Networking and support are one of the main reasons we have our chapters and come to the meetings. But when four minutes are spent on someone reading three or four reviews of their latest book and a person who FINALLY sold to a NY publisher after FOURTEEN years of trying gets thirty seconds and a tiny smattering of applause, I'm not only mad, I'm disinterested in attending. Selling our manuscripts is the goal here. It's why we belong to the chapter and why we attend meetings – well, why most of us do it. When the ultimate goal is reached, we should make a big freakin' deal about it. Champagne, confetti, a big brass band. Okay, overkill, but you get my point.

We used to make a bigger deal, and that saddens me. When I first joined my chapters years ago, the person who sold got to stand in front of the group and tell about "getting the call" so we could all feel their excitement and feed off of it, hoping it would be us next time. Now – a tiny smattering of applause then onto the next 4 Butterfly or 5 Kisses review from some website I've only marginally heard of and a full reading of the quote. Sigh.

Okay, rant over. But I'm still not going to my next meeting (vbg).

Cathy Mc

The Process Is Way To Slow

2009-06-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Nothing is happening. I’ve turned in my author photo and they asked for a bio. I turned one in, and my editor's assistant asked about removing a line or two. We agreed on what had to go and that's the last I've heard. ePublishing moves sooo fast, and I'm trying to keep busy writing the new book.

I’m still waiting on copy edits for Kismet (set for January release), and I’m still waiting on my editor to tell me whether she likes/hates the first book in the Sicari series. I’m turning in Book 2’s proposal on Monday, so I’m biting nails that my editor loves Book 1 so she’ll love Book 2. I think my biggest fear will be that copyedits will come when I'm struggling to get Book 2 done.

I know my editor reads really slow, and I think this is good, because it means she’s methodical and meticulous. I LOVE that. I want an editor who is thorough. Makes for better books because she’s going to help me buff up spots where they need examination.

Of course, she could have read it already and is just now thinking, how the hell do I tell this writer I hate this book and I can’t publish it. Oy! I imagine my imagination is definitely all over the place on this one.

I am still ahead of the game some. I’ve already added a page for Kismet onto the website, just not blatantly advertising it yet. Still waiting on the cover, which I’m sure is going to be fabulous. I’ve also got the book video pretty much ready to go, just need to add the cover graphic. I hope I get it soon, because I want to send out some excerpts discs to a couple of conferences, and I need to get those puppies out by the end of the month.

I got my first official NY house publishing party invitation in the mail. NCP and Samhain have had lovely parties at different conferences, so this won’t be my first in terms of a publisher party, but it is special in the sense that it’s my NY debut party.

I won two auctions on Brenda Novak’s Online Auction for promo purposes. I got Pat Rouse’s list of reader groups/booksellers. I’ve used her list before, so I’m familiar with the contents. Then I also won the services of Kim Castillo and her bookseller service for a mailing. I’ll be interested to see how Kim works and the results I get from the mailing I want to do with her. I deliberately bid on her services based on the fact that she has direct contacts with booksellers as opposed to reader groups, Eloisa James sings her praises and I can DEFINITELY use the help in someone assimilating the mailing for me. All I have to do is come up with the items, and the postage. I think that’s a good deal.

So I’m basically in a holding pattern at the moment, waiting for the next step in the process.

Moments in Life

2009-06-10T05:39:00.001-07:00

Think about the moments in your life that have taken your breath away. That first kiss--date. Your engagement. Your wedding. A birth of a child. What about those moments that inspire a story? It happened to me last night.

In Arizona our summers are hot, but last night there was a gentle breeze, gray clouds stormed the sky. I sat outside of a Barnes and Noble while my husband went in to find a book. Then it happened. Looking into the brilliance of the store windows, watching people move silently about, the sound of distant traffic, and the flirtatious laughter of a girl teasing two boys as they walked down the sidewalk there was brief moment of awe. It was as if I stood outside this picture, nose pressed to the glass staring in. Even now it's truly hard for me to describe my feelings, but more importantly I have to ask myself why?

Why did that moment stir such soul-wrenching emotions within me? I really don't know, but it left me feeling small in comparison to the world that surrounded me and strangely inspired. I immediately imagined a hero gazing into the same window that I did, his thoughts, his lonesome existence, the life that another human being could breath into him without her knowledge. I felt his sorrow--his longing, and then my daughter spoke to me reminding me I wasn't alone.

Darn it!

I didn't speak of the incident to any of my family members, because let's face it--no one knows you like another writer or at least I think you'll understand. Has such an event ever happened to you? I'm curious to know if there are more of us out there or if I'm the only freak-a-zoid out there.

Mac

P.S. Yes. It's true. I did not go into the bookstore. I was practicing control since I had just purchased three books from Wal-Mart. *g*

Collector or Pack Rat

2009-06-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

As I look around my library I have to ask myself: Are you a collector of research items or a pack rat?

When it comes to books no matter the genre it's difficult for me to release them. For example, I'm looking at a book entitled 108 Pages of Beautiful Designed Gowns or how about Erotic Tickling. Bet that got your attention. *g*

Besides the two books listed above, I have tons of books I've collected under the guise of research. Funny thing is that when I come to a subject requiring research it never seems as if I look at my own library first. No sirree. I rush to the bookstore and buy a new book. My encyclopaedias are the only exception. I purchased a beautiful set of World Book Encyclopaedias for my girls when they were small. I swear I've used them more than they have.

I have a certain amount of fear of trusting anything extracted from the internet, even though I do surf. Whatever I do locate on the internet I always try to confirm in cold-hard print. Of course, there is the little voice in my head that says, "Don't believe everything you read, either." Even still, I love research and learning new things. I guess you could add that I love bookstores, too.

Although I love reading, recently I have felt the need to visit some of the places I write about. Right now it is New Orleans. For some odd reason I feel compelled to go there. I don't think I've ever felt this way before. For me if I can experience a small piece of what I'm writing about, even down to the pain or joy some of my characters feel, it helps to authenticate my story. I want to experience the spirit of New Orleans. I want to see the devastation in surrounding areas and how the folks there have risen above mother nature's wrath. So keep your fingers crossed that here in the near future I hope a plane and feed my curiousity.

Mac

Life Interrupting

2009-06-02T23:48:00.000-07:00

I have 637 unanswered emails in my inbox. They've been building since last week. Why? you ask. Here's my current list of tasks, all of the due by June 15th:

1) Art fact sheets for three books.

2) Revisions on Bear Creek Ranch III.

3) First three chapters on new continuity proposal.

4) RWA chapter board business (install new software and enter all of 2009 data).

What is going on in my life while I have these deadlines:

1) Major conflict with 19th year old son.

2) Personnel issues at work.

3) Needy older parent.

4) An all-day workshop this Saturday.

What I really want:

1) A week off work (haven't had a vacation since last year).

2) A personal assistant.

3) Counseling sessions (for my son and my mother, not me!).

4) To read a book.

5) To see the movie Star Trek before it's out of theaters.

6) Have lunch with a friend.

7) A night of wild, passionate sex when I'm not so tired I fall fast asleep the second I assume a horizontal position.

Yeah, I'm venting again about my candle, which is burning furiously at both ends. Something's got to give but I don't know what. I just keep looking at June 15th like it's a pin prick of light at the end of a very long tunnel and keep telling myself, "It's okay, just breathe deep, there you go."

I know I must really love writing. Why else would I do this to myself? If I didn't write, I could sleep in later and relax when I got home from work. Crazy, isn't it?

Well, I need to sign off. It's 11:45 p.m., and I'm beat.

Cathy Mc

Know Thyself

2009-06-01T18:45:00.001-07:00

I just got home from Number One's Step Up to High School ceremony, and boy was I happy it gave me a topic for this post. LOL

As the guidance counselor called each student across the stage, he read some things they'd supplied about themselves. Some of their achievements and interests from the three years. Fondest memories. One word to describe themselves. And goals for the future.

It was quite amazing how many of the 275-ish students had really specific goals. If I'd counted, I'm sure I'd find that most were generic--get into a great college, do their best always, finish high school, etc. But many wanted to be lawyers or doctors. There was astronomer, cancer researcher for St. Jude's hospital, and counselor for at-risk teens or behavioral medicine. Several students mentioned being authors--the first student across (who happens to be my daughter's best friend) had a whole list, including something with her music and being a best-selling author, and coming back to gloat at everyone. The boy my daughter likes wants to be an engineer and discover alternative fuels!

It's probably cliché for me to say I don't remember being that decisive at the end of eighth grade (though ninth grade was still junior high, so it doesn't quite compare). But not only that...I didn't decide until senior year what I was going to college for, and that plan went out the window with my D in physics. I'm not even using my degree!

What's even more interesting is that I kind of find myself where those kids are, in a way. Sure, I knew 16 years ago that I wanted a career in fiction, and I've been fighting to achieve that ever since. And it hasn't changed. But sometimes, things happen that give you a renewed sense of clarity, allow you that conviction that some of these eighth graders have already found.

My family set things up three years ago to allow me to quit my day job and be home with the kids. After about nine months, I started doing freelance editing/proofreading and occasional ghostwriting. But with our vacation schedule this year, I decided to try to get a part-time job while the kids were in school. I found the perfect one--flexible schedule that could accommodate my retreat plans and the kids' appointments and ceremonies, easy work, quiet office, no stress, working on my own most of the time.

And I hate it.

Okay, hate's a strong word. I don't hate the job, and certainly can't complain that I got exactly what I was looking for. What I hate is not doing this. Not succeeding enough at the fiction and editing so that can be all I do.

I knew, in that part of my brain/heart that's for knowing without thinking about it, that writing is it for me. But this situation drove it home. If I have to go back to work full time, I'll do it, gladly, because family needs come first, and I'll do whatever job I can get. But I will also move heaven and earth to make sure it's a job working with words. I have soul-deep conviction regarding my future.

And I wish that conviction--supported by circumstance or not--for everyone.

The Shot I Ran With

2009-05-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when you're trying to make a decision, it's important to listen to others. At other times you have to listen to your gut. The majority of people I heard from offline, online and via email liked #4, shown here.I'll be honest, I put this shot up completely as a joke because I truly hated the picture. Clearly it backfired on me.

It made me feel ugly when I looked at it, and I do not think I'm ugly. I'm moderately attractive and I have my moments when I look pretty good. But this picture just made me squeamish, and for those of you who know me well, the only thing that generally makes me squeamish is blood. I pass out.

A couple of people liked #2, which was a close up, but the smile seemed forced to me. I either laugh boisterously or I half smile. There is no in between with me. It's B&W not gray areas, although as I age,I am learning that gray does exist. No wait, I do smirk on occasion.

So I debated and debated, should I go against the flow or should I be a rebel like I usually am? I mean these are people who weren't looking at the photo in the same critical way I was. Again, I went back to debating what to do. I was all ready to send off photo number 4, when something said, "Go back one last time and look at the shots." In the beginning there was this shot that I really liked. The only problem with it was that you could see the back door of our house, the door mat, and essentially it really looked like the home-grown shot it was. BUT, I really liked the photo.

With that little voice in my head urging me on, I pulled up Adobe PhotoShop and played around for a while, getting nowhere. I thought I could submit a B&W of my website photo, when I remembered OMG I have to get permission from the photographer, but I don't think they're in business anymore.

Then it happened, I accidentally clicked on the wrong button, and I wound up in this help forum for Photo Shop. There at the top of the page were detailed instructions on how to remove a background and/or make it blurred. I went to work on it. Took me a little bit of trial and error, but I came up with a shot that I can live with in Color OR B&W. Most importantly I got rid of that bloody bowl cut that gave me that swooped look on the side!!! AGGGGHHH!

Now the only person I have to get usage permission from is the DH, but I can twist his arm, I'm sure. Here's what I came up with for the inside cover of the book and my website.

The Dreaded Part of the Process

2009-05-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

You thought I was going to say CEs (copy edits), didn't you! HAH! Those are easy compared to the...ugh photo session for a picture at the back of the book.

I was going to pay someone to take my picture, but then money got tight (the DH has GOT to stop remodeling!). When money ran out, I thought, okay, I can use that dated photo I have on the website, OR I can get the DH and a friend to do some photos. So this past weekend, the DH aka Tim "Toolman" Taylor and his friend AL dragged out ladders and cameras for a home grown photo shoot. Me, I was struggling not to sneeze, tear up or otherwise be miserable from allergies, thanks to all the pollen that STILL does exist in our neck of the woods.

The photo shoot was fun, but I was looking at some of the DH's shots on the digital camera and thinking, OMG...

well I won't tell you what I was thinking because it's too disgusting even for me and my self-deprecating wit. Out of the shots the DH took, I found ONE that I might have been able to live with, but in the end I said no, I'll stick with the current professional shot I have.

Then tonight, Tim "Toolman" Taylor walks in from Target with Al's photos from Saturday (Al has an antique camera and it requires film) . Tim hands me a small clip sheet of about 12 photos.

"This is it."

"What do you mean this is it?"

"That's all they could find on the roll."

"How in the hell can you not find at least 36 shots on that roll of film. I KNOW Al took a lot more than this!"

"Well there's only what you see on the sheet. Look at the negatives." Tim snaps the negatives out of their folds like someone displaying a plastic wallet string of credit cards. "See, look at all the blank spots."

So I'm going OMG, I'm just NOT suppose to have my picture taken. So I scan through them on the computer with Tim hanging over my shoulder. We get to one and Tims says,

"Hey, I like that one, it's good." His words make me slowly turn my head and I give him THE LOOK!

"You can't be serious."

"No, I like it. What's wrong with it?"

Now I look at him with that "who are you and what have you done with my husband" look. I shake my head slowly.

"Umm, well for one thing I look like Quasimodo, hunchback and ALL! Now go away and I'll figure out what I want. Naturally Tim's feeling a bit resentful.

"I don't know what you don't like about the picture. I think it's a good shot."

Clearly the man has no marketing sense whatsoevah! So I thought I'd post them here to see what others thought. Take a look and vote for your fav. I think I've already made up my mind, but I'm always willing to be persuaded otherwise. We're always tougher on ourselves, or so I've heard. These are all in B&W because that's how they're going to appear in the book. Better that you see them the way they're going to be!

Photo 1

This one is really scary because I AM my Mother's DAUGHTER! AAAAAAHHHH! Seriously, I do look like my Mom in this photo, the Italian hand curled, the smile and the laughing squint! *grin*

Photo 2

This shot looks like I'm getting ready to tell you exactly what I think. Do I really need this kind of a shot in the back of a book??

Photo 3

I feel certain this is NOT the one. I look too smug and moderately intelligent. The expression on my face says, you looking at me? You looking at ME? Why? My picture is here in the back of the book because I'm the author.

Photo 4

This one sort of LOOKS like an author photo, BUT it looks like I was having a HORRIBLY Bad hair day, when in fact, my hair actually looked nice that day. On the side it looks like I've got a bowl style hair cut where the hair stops just short of the ear. Sort of like that Hitler sideswipe hairstyle. God Forbid!

So go ahead. Vote and let me know what you think. You're not going to hurt my feelings a bit. Hell, I've survived bad reviews, what could anyone possibly say to me that would hurt? Maybe that I don't look like my Mom?? Ok, that would probably sting. In truth, I like seeing her face in me. Means she's in my heart and shining out through my face. *grin*

Natalie's New Release!

2009-05-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I had a release! But for all you paperback lovers who, like me, prefer to hold a real book in your hands over reading digital ink, Indulgence II is here!

I know, lame title. I'm a lame titler, what can I say? But I've always claimed my work is indulgent fiction, designed for pleasure reading, escapism, fantasizing over possible...shall we say...alternate realities. :) Indulgence is more appropriate than ever with these stories:

Indulge yourself once again in scorching fantasy. Fall in love with a younger man, a rock star, a superhero, or an emotionally tortured savior of abducted children.

Previously available only in electronic format, these four novellas of pure escapism have now been combined for a paperback edition! Included are the titles...

Letting Go
Inspired a little by all the talk amongst my friends and online acquaintances about the wrongness of attraction to a man young enough to be your son. :)

Rebuilding Forever
This one's a sequel to Lost Our Forever (e-book and also found in Indulgence, but you don't really have to have read that one to enjoy this one. This is the closest I've ever come to male/male erotica. Seth and Julian are just so delicious!

Renegade
For my Supernatural friends out there, Jake and Dan are not Dean and Sam, but are definitely inspired by them.

Under Control
Reluctant superhero. Nuff said?

(Full descriptions and excerpts for each story
are available by clicking on the above links!)

The paperback is available at the publisher's site here, or directly from Amazon here. If you are local to me, I've ordered a few to sell, so let me know if you're interested in a signed copy at a slight discount. I know! Bargain! :)

Have a lovely holiday weekend!

Positive Thinking

2009-05-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

On a local radio station they have been promoting the theory of positive thinking and visualizing your dreams. (Right now I'm visualizing the mosquito swarmining around my head dead.) Where was I? Oh. Yes. Positive thinking.

It is believed that our feelings, beliefs and knowledge is based upon our conscious and subconscious internal thoughts. Which means that we are in control. Our attitudes are habits created from the feedback of people around us, society and the words we speak to ourselves.

Therefore, to changed our attitudes we must:

1. Change the way we speak to ourselves. Be committed to changing. Praise ourselves. Visualize success. Be enthusiatic.

2. Look for positive individuals to associate with. Listen and learn. We are drawn to happy people.

3. Focus on important things. Set goals and make a plan on how you will address problems/issues. Relax.

4. See learning and change as an opportunity. In this economy perhaps losing your job is really an opportunity to do something you love. Seek out new things to try, new people to meet. Be courageous and optimistic.

5. Ask a lot of questions. Find something interesting in a conversation or meeting you would normally find boring. Brainstorm. Energize your intellect.

It is a proven fact that people who begin to modify their inner conversation experience an immediate improvement in their performance. Energy increases and their lives begin to improve.

Hell, what have you got to lose? Why not give it a try?

Mac

Lifestyle Changes

2009-05-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend I finished my fifteenth published novel and submitted it to my editor at Harlequin. That total doesn't include the eight or so partial manuscripts taking up space on my bookshelf, the two unpublished novellas, and the three or four rough story ideas. I'm still amazed when I think about writing fifteen novels, especially when I remember back to finishing that very first one, and the thrill I had telling everyone, "Hey, I wrote a book!"

Today, a whole 24 hours after submitting book fifteen, I began book sixteen and got five pages written. I have no time to waste, the first three chapters of book sixteen are due on my editor's desk by June 15th – along with revisions on book fourteen and the art fact sheets. It's going to be a crazy busy month.

Don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to write three books this year. It might be okay if I didn't have the day job. Then I'd probably have time to spend on promotion, which takes a back seat the EVERYTHING else. I've come to the realization that if I want to keep this up, the writing three books a year thing, I'm going to have to make some serious lifestyle changes. More than I already have.

What should I give up now?

Time spent with family and friends? No way. I'd rather cut off my left hand.

Time watching television? I already DVR exclusively so that when I do manage to find time to sit in front of the boob tube, it's to watch something I've already recorded and can zip through the commercials. Yeah, the finale of American Idol is on tonight, and I'm so watching that.

Sleep? No thanks. Did that for years. These days I get at least seven hours of shut eye a night and have no intention of doing with less.

That leaves work. I recently cut back on the day job from 35-40 hours/week to 20/week. Starting in August, I'm going to reduce that again to about 15 hours/week and most of that will be done from home - which will save me over 3 hours/week driving time.

The writing doesn't pay as well as the day job and there's no health insurance or 401K, but I can't imagine any other occupation I'd rather have. I count myself lucky to be someone who loves their job. Even if I do have to spend the next thirty days with my nose pressed firmly and contentiously to the grind stone.

Cathy Mc

Quick Hits

2009-05-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

I am back from my four-day writing retreat, and have a blessed day off work today, but I also have a week's worth of work to do in one day because I have to work the rest of the week. So this post is going to be quick and random.

Retreat was awesome. Wrote over 13,000 words in four days, which isn't my best, but I spent the first day reading through 52,000 and editing. It was an incredible recharge and though most of my compatriots are exhausted (midnight movies and dance parties take their toll), I'm energized.

I have a new keyboard, my Mother's Day present, and I'm loving it. I have to get used to the old horizontal placement of the page up/down/insert/home/end/delete keys, because my old keyboard had the vertical placement. And some of the keys are closer together, but I'll adjust.

What I'm worried about, though, is the rechargeable wireless mouse. I forgot to put it on the charge pad last night, and to turn it off. How long before it craps out?

I just read that Castle, Chuck, and Dollhouse were all renewed! Unofficial source, so I must confirm, but the finales of all three were very cool, and I'm happy we get to see what happens next for them.

And finally, let me point you to Romance University, a new romance-oriented blog that launched today with Brenda Novak as the guest professor. I will be next Tuesday's guest, with an interview focusing on my "Pirate's Guide to a Successful Publishing Career" workshop. Probably the feature I'm looking forward to most, however, is the Anatomy of a Male Mind column on Wednesdays.

Have a good week!

Epiphanies

2009-05-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

The Horror of It All

I’ve been terrorized by the next book in my paranormal series. I know my world pretty well, and I’ve been looking forward to telling the story of the two secondary characters (Lysander and Phaedra) from Book 1. Just one problem, they’ve not been very cooperative when it comes to sharing their story. Pulling a bone from the jaws of a pit bull would be easier than getting these two to talk.

The whole process has been so bad that I’ve been losing sleep over it. Over the past week, I’ve woken up at 2am, 3am, 4am sporadically with questions that I don’t have answers too. Sometimes I get up to try and answer the questions and other times I lie there wanting to cry because all I can see is that deadline barreling down at me like a train. And trust me; waking up at these hours in the morning doesn’t bode well for an 8-hour work day. All I can say is, I didn’t sign up for this kind of mental anguish.

I’m Losing It

So last night I went to bed at 8pm, frightened, utterly exhausted and debating whether I need to ask for a proposal deadline extension—NOT a good thing in my book. But there I was looking down the barrel of a gun with about two pages of a 12-13 page synopsis written, and I’m looking at a proposal deadline middle of June. I mean, what do I do, call and say, “Hey, sorry my characters aren’t talking to me, and I’m not sure I can get this to you in time.” Yeah, and what bridge did you last buy?

I set my alarm for 4:30am. I figure that will give me eight solid hours of sleep, which will hopefully give me some stamina to write. It took less than five minutes for me to drop off into the la petite mort, although a really small, irrational part of me was wishing for la grand mort (no not really, I’m depressed about all this but definitely not suicidal).

A Sleepy Epiphany

But here I am, sleeping peacefully and something wakes me up. I look at the clock and it’s ONLY 10:15pm. WTF, I took all of my drugs, including my sleeping pill and all I can get out are two hours of nods? So I lay there for a minute trying to go back to sleep. Then it hits me. I mean it hits me right between the eyes, I know how to make this process easier. I’ve been here before, I just didn’t remember it. Immediately I scramble out of bed and race toward the computer (ok, so I fell out of bed and stumbled sleepy-eyed toward the computer).

It took me several minutes to find what I was looking for, but when I did, I was overjoyed. I had all but a small portion of the synopsis laid out in about two hours. Here’s what I did. I remembered I’d blogged about how a synopsis is like calculus, but I just couldn’t remember WHERE, but I eventually found it. I posted the following blog on RWA Online HEA Café blog August 31, 2007. And thanks to that blog post, I got that damn synopsis pretty much written, now on to writing four or five chapters to go with the synopsis. A writer’s work is never done. Oh, and I’m reposting it here so I can remember to look here in another moment of panic in the wee hours of the morning!!!!

Synopses and “Calculus Just Is” Moments"

Synopsis From Hell

I despise synopsis writing. I’m a pantser, and I’d never written a synopsis BEFORE finishing the book. But a couple of weeks ago, I found myself in the uncomfortable position of needing to write a synopsis for a book where I’d only written 50 pages.

Writing this synopsis was ten times worse than writer’s block. All I could do was sit at the screen and wonder what to put on the page. I know how to write a synopsis, when the book is already written. That’s easy for me, but how was I supposed to write one BEFORE I’d written the ending. Now I had written about 50 pages of the book, but it still didn’t help me much figuring out what to include in the synopsis. Sure I had an “idea” of what the black moment might be like, but what else did I need?

Outlines - Fault Lines

I don’t follow a formula, outline, etc. when I write. Words just flow out of me, and then I go back and edit. But you can’t do that with a synopsis. Think of it as being a map. A map for what direction the book is headed in. I’d never drawn a book map before, so I went surfing on the net. I figured, hey someone out there has an idea for how to write a synopsis.

Now you’d think Google or Dogpile would yield tons of results on how to write a synopsis. Umm, no. Either I wasn’t spelling synopsis correctly or there the knowledgebase was running a little dry. But then I found her!

Alicia Rasley

She had this wonderful article on the three acts found in a book. http://www.sff.net/people/alicia/artthreeacts.htm

So here I was reading the article, and suddenly it was like being in calculus class. If you’ve ever taken calculus, you know that understanding it requires you to accept the fact that “it just is.” A concept I found difficult to grasp until two weeks before the end of the semester. The lightbulb came on! It was wonderful. I could finally accept that calculus just is.

I share that with you because when I was reading Alicia’s article, I had one of those “calculus just is” moments. Here it was in black and white. Everything I needed to go into my synopsis. Alicia had laid it all out for me. The result was magic for me. I took the headings from Alicia’s article, and opened a document in Word, where I listed the primary points from the article.

Setup
Initiating Event
External Conflict Emerges
Antagonist Shows Up
Conflict Rises
The Reversal
The Point of No Return
Crisis
The Dark Moment
The Climax
The Resolution

Under each header, I wrote a brief blurb, scene, explanation for the action that occurs under the header. I did this for each one all the way through to The Point of No Return or it might have been Crisis. I can’t remember. Anyway, I’m thinking, WTF do I do now??? For two days I couldn’t write another word. I was in the dark about how to finish the damn thing. Then it hit me. Why not work backward! I had a basic idea of how I wanted the book to end, so I essentially worked my way back to get those last scenes in my head.

The Resolution

In the process, I wrote one of the best synopses I’ve ever written. Now the process outlined above may or may not help you write a synopsis, but as I tell my kids, you have to at least try it. If you don’t like it then you eat or do something else. While it might seem like a formula, it isn’t really. It’s just a list of the necessary ingredients that have to go in a book and the writer has to add in those same ingredients to a synopsis. It’s taken me five long years to have my “calculus just is” moment when it comes to synopsis writing, but now that I have, it’s going to be a lot easier from here on out.

In response to this blog, Claire Delacroix directed me to a class she'd done about synopses and it's a HUGE help as well. Check it out at the RWA HEA Cafe

Following my own directions...

2009-05-13T05:24:00.000-07:00

Yes. I stopped and smelled the roses this weekend. *g*

It started Friday when I took off four hours early from work to take my husband to the movies. We started with Star Trek and followed the day up with Wolverine. Now I had to admit I was looking forward to seeing Wolverine, but not necessarily Star Trek. What a surprise! Star Trek was very good, while Wolverine lacked something to me.

But my weekend had only begun.

Saturday my husband informs me that he appreciated me watching movies I didn't care for, so he would take me to My Dead Girlfriends (or something like that). You can see it really left an impact on me. It started out with potential and somewhere down the road lost it. Honestly, Star Trek was the best out of the three.

But the weekend was still young.

My husband and I spent the day shopping and tracking down the much needed batteries for our jet skis, which would be the lead in for Sunday--Mother's Day.

That's right. The entire family went to the lake to celebrate. We had a great time together riding the boat and jet skis. Came home tired, but relaxed and ready for a barbeque. Family. Food. Fun. What a wonderful combination. I am truly blessed.

Hope all you mothers out there had a wonderful day, especially you new mothers.

Mac