Going no where!

The problem for most writers is writing.  Kevin and Laura are chatting at me telling me what they want me to write, but I haven’t had time for them. That’s because I’ve been polishing another manuscript for publication.

Publication is the name of the game when you’re an author. Everyone wants to write the great novel and many people try it. What happens to those manuscripts? Nothing. They sit in the computer or on a shelf and they never leave. Why? Because the author doesn’t try to sell them or the author does and is rejected.

Publishers want something good. They want a solid story with a good balance of dialog.  They want characters that are realistic even if someone is writing paranormal the characters must seem real to the story.  There has to be a reason to keep turning the pages or hooks as they are called in the industry.  It must be written with reasonably good grammar. A few comma errors will not prevent it from being sold, but no one wants to wade through to fix a million grammatical mistakes. Someone can have a great story and if it’s not properly crafted it will be rejected. 

The perfect story isn’t going to go anywhere if the publisher doesn’t publish that type of story. It’s important to find the right publisher. Harry Potter went through several publishers and each rejected it because they didn’t think it was right for them. (I wonder what they are thinking now?)

How many times have I started reading a book and tossed it to one side? Hundreds! Known authors, touted to be the best book they’ve ever written, and it didn’t hold my interest. Everyone has a preference when it comes to reading and that includes publishers, editors, and agents. Never take a rejection personally. But most will give an indication as to why they rejected it. Pay attention to what they say and learn.

That brings me back to what I’m doing, polishing a manuscript. Reading and re-reading it to make sure it is as perfect as I can make it.  Unfortunately, it is hard work so Kevin and Laura will have to wait until I’m ready to devote some time to them.

TGIF and a pet(s) for Kevin!

Now, I can put the workweek behind me and concentrate on my real love, writing.  I’m putting Laura on the back burner. She’s having issues so that opens me to think about Kevin. A friend suggested that he have an African Gray for a pet. Hmm, that set my mind rolling in a different direction.  Suddenly, I could see a large cage filled with lots of finches. Not a normal cage, but rather a custom built cage that would take up an entire wall with branches and plants. A kind of natural habitat for the tiny birds.  It suits his personality. Yes, Kevin is egotistical and aggressive, and that makes the birds a nice balance for his life.  He can come home, put his feet up, and relax while watching and listening to feathered friends. Of course it’s extreme, but it suits him. Tiny little exotic song birds in a grand cage keeping him company.

The story is begining to weave itself and that is what I need.  Right now it doesn’t look as if these two belong together but they do. They are yin and yang. Once united they will be wonderful, but getting these two to that point isn’t going to be easy.  

Characters have to be fully developed before the story can really begin. RIght now, Kevin and Laura are still a little flat. I’ve got to find the glue that will hold them together and they have to become very real.

People want to feel as if they know the characters. It’s part of what makes a story stand out above the rest. That doesn’t mean everyone must like the characters, but they must feel some kind of a connection to them.

Talking to characters.

I’ve been having a terrible time with Kevin. He’s there in my mind and I can see his face, but something is lacking and the story isn’t going to move forward until this problem is resolved. But what is the problem?

Kevin’s good looking with a charm your panties off smile. So what is or rather what isn’t happening? I keep asking him. Why do you want Laura? What’s the appeal? Typical male answer, she’s cute. That’s not not enough I’ve told him. Why now? Why her? What do you have that her boyfriend doesn’t?

Oh, that upset him. He wanted to know about the boyfriend. Men are just as jealous as women. Really, did he expect Laura to be some sweet little virginal female? She’s an attractive business woman.  She’s not sitting at home twiddling her thumbs hoping some prince charming is going to come knock on her door and whisk her off to his castle.

He admitted that he wasn’t interested in that type of female. He thinks she’s cute. He grins and shrugs at me. Sorry, Kevin, you’ve got to give me more than that! I’m not writing a book because you think she’s cute. Kevin has a super ego and until he tells me more I’m not writing another word. 

Maybe Laura will tell me why she’d consider Kevin. I’ll go talk to her. On the other hand that’s probably a bad idea, she’s still upset with him.  It’s hard playing matchmaker to these two!

TGIF Here comes the weekend!

Time to relax and put the day job behind me for a while. 

Yes, Laura and Kevin have been quite busy trying to figure out how their lives will connect.  Kevin is rather straightforward, but Laura isn’t going to be quite as quick.  She’s not the type of woman to sit at home waiting for some guy to whisk her off her feet. Kevin is intrigued with her, but he’s busy and he’s not exactly pining for a date.  He’s also upset about his sports car.

These two characters are impossible! Maybe that’s what makes them so real. I can feel their chemistry sparking, but until they feel it there will be a standoff.  Every senario dream up, Laura shoots it down.  Oh, she thinks he’s handsome but she’s not about to date a guy because he’s good looking. She wants something more, but she hasn’t said what it is. 

There are authors who plan everything out for their characters. I don’t do that. I let them rattle around and see what happens.  I’ve tried plotting and found myself boxed into the plan. I didn’t like it. So I pushed most of the plot away and gave my charactors free rein.  I know where the story is going so that is nothing new. What I hope is that my readers enjoy the ride. 

Most romance stories end the same, happily ever after. So what should make each one different is the way they get there.  I swear some authors change the names, the location, and the story is the same. I don’t ever want that to happen to my romance stories.  I like to think that my people are unique just as we all are. No one looks exactly alike. Even identical twins are slightly different and the older they are the less they look alike.  Why? Because we are the sum of our life experiences and it shows on us. Also, it shows in our personalities!

Please don’t tell me men don’t talk or only speak in three word sentences.  I know guys who can ramble on like a bunch of old ladies and I know gals who only answer in clipped sentences.  I like people who talk. You know exactly where they stand.

Want to help me write?

Not really, but I’m wide open for ideas.  I want a pet for Kevin, but he’s hardly ever home so that eliminates a dog.  It’s not a contest, but I’d love to hear everyone’s ideas for a great pet for a single male.  You just might find your great pet idea in my manuscript!

Finding the time to write.

The hardest part is finding enough time to write. Laura and Kevin had been chatting back and forth all day in my brain’s spare time – not that there is much spare time.  I worked extra hours today at my day job and then I’ve been working on my website.  Laura and Kevin are busy writing their story, but my fingers are lagging behind them.  Sometimes that is okay.  I can straighten out a lot of problems before they get out of hand, especially if they wander off on a tangent. I simply tell them, “No! Can’t do it that way.  There must be a logical order.” These two aren’t listening to me!

Furthermore, men don’t like it when women don’t appreciate antique sports cars.  An antique car is like a pet. You wouldn’t tell someone their dog is ugly even if it was. (I know I own an ugly dog.  She has a face that only a mother could love, but she’s mine.)  Laura’s first mistake was telling Kevin his car was piece of junk. She’s judging him by what he drives.

Don’t we all make assumptions about people based on appearances? Ever pass up a chance to go out on a date because he/she didn’t “fit” what you thought you wanted? Are we really that shallow?

Living with Characters

Laura and Kevin demanded their own story. I’m not happy with them right now as I was not planning to start another manuscript for a while, but the sound of two cars colliding would not leave my brain. I had to write the scene.

As an author that sort of thing happens. Some authors plot everything out so carefully and then go back and fill in the story. I don’t do that. I allow them to snowball. Yes, that means I write by the seat of my pants or rather I allow them to write their own stories.

Laura shocked me as I had pictured her a little differently, but once she started talking I realized she was not exactly who I thought she was. Laura is a tough, no nonsense type of person and she’s just met her match! Kevin has a wickedly sexy grin and enough charm to woo a jury, but if her wants Laura he’s going to have to do something more than flash her a smile. Right now she’s not exactly impressed with him.

Hello world!

Want to watch the process of writing a story? You’ve come to the right place. I’ll walk you through the process of creating a novel complete with all the frustrations and joys along the way.