Can you believe we are starting 2011 in just a couple days? Is it me or did this year fly by in a blink of an eye?
I look back on the past twelve months and think about accomplishments, failures and unfinished business. All in all the year has been pretty positive. I still have a couple things to finish and the failures were stepping stones. So what to plan next year?
Hmmm, number one on the list is finish my first book. Editing and a few changes is all it needs. Number two is to start the second book. Number three is to try to get it published. Then, of course, there a fifty more things on the list that I'll be working on in between called life. What do you have planned for next year?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Giving the Reader What They Want
I write what I want to read. I have heard other authors say that. I love to read historical romance. LOVE IT! Do I want to write it? No! Way too much research! I like to write contemporary romance. Once I get published will anyone else want to read my books? I hope so.
I met up with some friends tonight who are avid readers. Mostly romance. I listened to the comments they made about other authors they read. The heroine was too young and not relatable, too many zombies, story didn't move along quick enough, too much sex, not enough sex...
It gave me even more book ideas. I definitely have the writing bug! My muse is busy throwing ideas at me quicker than I can write them down. Surely others will want to read my work and share it with the world. If not I will still have to write. And I will continue to listen to what others want to read and try to accommodate while still enjoying they story my way.
I met up with some friends tonight who are avid readers. Mostly romance. I listened to the comments they made about other authors they read. The heroine was too young and not relatable, too many zombies, story didn't move along quick enough, too much sex, not enough sex...
It gave me even more book ideas. I definitely have the writing bug! My muse is busy throwing ideas at me quicker than I can write them down. Surely others will want to read my work and share it with the world. If not I will still have to write. And I will continue to listen to what others want to read and try to accommodate while still enjoying they story my way.
Monday, November 8, 2010
How do I Write a Story?
Most of my friends are very surprised I'm writing novels. I don't know why. I have always had a pretty vivid imagination. I've written poetry in the past. I think they wonder why I waited until now. After all, I'm in my late 40's. You know, nearing the menopause days, I should just pack up my life and live on past memories.
As I near fifty, I still have a couple of years, I feel as energetic and alive as I did at twenty-five. I still have dozens of things I'd love to see and do. I'm not dead yet!
Writing is just one of those things I've wanted to do. I tried to write a few years ago. It ended up a VERY short story, and in the trash. I tried to write a memoir of adopting our daughter. The outline is complete but I set it aside for awhile.
I can blame Gerard Butler for my desire to finally pick up the computer and type my life away. My dearest friends know about my obsession. I have all of his movies and I have seen most of his interviews. It was bordering on scary until I decided to write about him instead. Well, not about him exactly. About a Scottish actor who can't seem to find the right woman. It flowed brilliantly until I neared the end. Now it's getting difficult. 2500 words to go...and then it ends. Then what?
A book about a Gerard Butler/Craig Ferguson type with Robert Burns (the Scottish Poet) all rolled into one book. I can't wait to start. Then there's book three... expanding on a character in the first book - a magician - a Criss Angel type of guy. I love research!!!!
As I near fifty, I still have a couple of years, I feel as energetic and alive as I did at twenty-five. I still have dozens of things I'd love to see and do. I'm not dead yet!
Writing is just one of those things I've wanted to do. I tried to write a few years ago. It ended up a VERY short story, and in the trash. I tried to write a memoir of adopting our daughter. The outline is complete but I set it aside for awhile.
I can blame Gerard Butler for my desire to finally pick up the computer and type my life away. My dearest friends know about my obsession. I have all of his movies and I have seen most of his interviews. It was bordering on scary until I decided to write about him instead. Well, not about him exactly. About a Scottish actor who can't seem to find the right woman. It flowed brilliantly until I neared the end. Now it's getting difficult. 2500 words to go...and then it ends. Then what?
A book about a Gerard Butler/Craig Ferguson type with Robert Burns (the Scottish Poet) all rolled into one book. I can't wait to start. Then there's book three... expanding on a character in the first book - a magician - a Criss Angel type of guy. I love research!!!!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Becoming A Writer
I have been learning a lot these last few months that I have been working on my first book.
To start with, there are many people out there with good advice. Some with not so good advice. But I haven't found any bad advice, yet.
There are a whole lot of writers out there that have never been published. Some have a plethora of books
that, for whatever reason, are not published.
Writing is something that I have to do. Whether I get published or not, there are stories in my head begging
to get out. I must write. I think I have always felt this way but had resisted the urge. A friend tried to get me to journal but my personal life just isn't that interesting. Now fiction, the many stories trapped in my brain, seems to be much more exciting. A wealth of information dying to be told. A writer I met on Twitter says she hears voices in her head. It feels like that sometimes.
Lastly, for now, 50,000+ words are a lot of words. The story flows but what do you do when you end 10k short? I'm learning where to find more story. My friends have been quite helpful, giving me ideas of where to send my characters and what they could be doing, besides the obvious in a romance novel. Through reading other authors books and blogs I have learned add more content, conflict and, of course, sex. Gotta love romance!
To start with, there are many people out there with good advice. Some with not so good advice. But I haven't found any bad advice, yet.
There are a whole lot of writers out there that have never been published. Some have a plethora of books
that, for whatever reason, are not published.
Writing is something that I have to do. Whether I get published or not, there are stories in my head begging
to get out. I must write. I think I have always felt this way but had resisted the urge. A friend tried to get me to journal but my personal life just isn't that interesting. Now fiction, the many stories trapped in my brain, seems to be much more exciting. A wealth of information dying to be told. A writer I met on Twitter says she hears voices in her head. It feels like that sometimes.
Lastly, for now, 50,000+ words are a lot of words. The story flows but what do you do when you end 10k short? I'm learning where to find more story. My friends have been quite helpful, giving me ideas of where to send my characters and what they could be doing, besides the obvious in a romance novel. Through reading other authors books and blogs I have learned add more content, conflict and, of course, sex. Gotta love romance!
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