Supernatural Sunday

Please help me welcome a special guest in the Moonlight today, Laura Bickle, author of Ember and Sparks!

Growing a Story

by Laura Bickle

Growing a story is a lot like nurturing flowers. It takes a lot of care and patience. For a long while, it seems like nothing is happening. It's a lot of frustration with no immediate reward. Watching, waiting.

And then, one day...something blooms.

For me, a book begins with a kernel of an idea, like a tiny, withered bulb. It doesn't look like much of anything at the idea stage. I scribble the shriveled idea down in a journal, giving it plenty of white space to grow. I check up on it every so often, revisiting it to water with additional thoughts.  A story is very much a "What if ?" question at this point. "What if a fire elemental belonged to an arson investigator?" "What if the descendents of the Oracle of Delphi survived into the modern day?" "What if a criminal profiler secretly used Tarot cards to solve crimes?"

At this stage, the project could grow or go into hibernation. I'm not sure. It's very much like the bulbs I buy every so often from the hardware store. Sometimes, they sprout. Other times, they're musty or moldy. And there is no hope for a moldy idea.

If the bulb sprouts, I know that I can go forward with the idea. When does that happen? Usually, when  I can't get the idea out of my head. It's not only taking up space in a journal, but it's also sprouting roots in my subconscious. I start thinking about characters, outlining the structure of a story. I dream about the world. The idea begins to take the form of what could be. At this point, I'll clearly know of who the main character is and the challenge she faces.

As the bulb reaches roots into the soil and reaches up into the sky, I wonder about what kind of flower it will be. This is the equivalent of browsing pictures of perfect irises or seed catalogs. I wonder what color the flower will be or what species it is. Have I got a tiger lily or an iris? What genre is it? Is it fantasy? Urban fantasy? Will it be contemporary or historical? Dystopian? Or something else entirely? As I'm outlining, I try to nail down the genre, guess at what to expect. I'm not always successful, and there are always surprises. For example, I wrote a book with the intent that it was to be a contemporary fantasy...but it came out as a young adult story.

And there are some things that I can't anticipate until the story blooms. I won't know which way the stem will lean, how many leaves will sprout. I have the structure, the stem straining toward the light. But each blossom and leaf unfurls into something new.

At this stage, I can't neglect the work. It needs light and water on a daily basis. We all know what happens to houseplants that we forget. They wilt. Sometimes, they can be revived with water. But sometimes, they die as a result of neglect. When the plant is growing, I'm watching it like a hawk, weeding out bad ideas, and adding a bit more to it every day. I'm worming around in the roots, feeling the nourishment of the earth on the idea.

And that's where daily writing comes in. Plant growth, like daily writing, is often imperceptible. But looking at how much a plant grows from week to week, month to month...only over longer periods of time can one see the growth.

And one day...there's a book. It's unexpectedly blooming on my desk in all it's happy glory. It still needs care: editing of brown leaves, some pruning, a bit of plant food to plump up the anemic parts. But it's come forth into the world, almost of its own volition. It has a life of its own.

It's not a dramatic process for me. It's slow. It can take a season or more to coax a plant to bloom. It's not always successful. Some die before they reach the light.

But when an idea thrives, the results are worth it.



Other Stops on Laura's Blog Tour:

August 8 Guest Spot Laura Bickle

http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/ ;

 

August 11 Alayna Williams Guest Blog

http://www.ninapierce.com/blog

 

August 23 Guest Blog

http://www.chaosandinsanity.com/ 

 

9/13/2011 Alayna Williams Guest Blog

http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com

 

September 21 Alayna Williams Interview

Sizzling Hot Books

www.sizzlinghotbooks.net

 

9/27/11 Laura Bickel interview

http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com

 

10/04/2011 Novel Sneak Peak and one print set giveaway of both Embers and Sparks

http://www.nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/

Places to find Laura:

www.salamanderstales.com
www.alaynawilliams.com

Wistful Wednesday

Writing to Trends

There are a lot of interesting things out there to write about and when several writers inadvertently write about the same thing at the same time, it becomes a trend. And when other writers jump on the band wagon and start writing about those same things, they are writing to trend. Some examples are vampires, werewolves and now, angels. Fortunately, the interpretations of these subjects are as abundant and individual as those who write about them, so each story is unique and new. Despite this fact - or maybe because of it - there's no shortage of opinions on the practice of writing to trend.

In one camp, there are those who are highly against it, and they have varying opinions on why, not the least of which is the fear that the market will be glutted with poor imitations of more successful works. In the other camp, there are those who see nothing wrong with the practice and who whole-heartedly embrace it. I'm kind of middle of the road on it. I don't fault those who follow the trend and I don't begrudge the opinions of those who are against it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that shouldn't effect how others act. What matters most is how those individuals feel about what they are doing. As long as they're not plagiarizing other works, there is nothing wrong with following a trend.

Personally, I wouldn't follow a trend unless the subject really spoke to me. Vampires - fun to read about, but I haven't come up with a story of my own I'd want to write about. Dragons? Not my thing. Fairies? Possibly...

Then there are werewolves - here, the lines get a little murky because I do have a book coming out in the fall that deals with humans who shift into wolves, but I wouldn't call them werewolves, at least not in the typical sense. There is no painful metamorphosis with my characters, they shift seamlessly from one form to another and its more of a spiritual, shaman-like (appropriate since their Native Americans) transformation.

And last, there are angels. Angels are huge right now. It seems that everyone is writing about them. There is even talk around the blogosphere that they may be the new vampires. My first book, Nora's Soul, is about angels, and I have a whole series planned around it, the next of which is in the publishing process now. Some might accuse me of following a trend, but the truth is that I've been writing about angels for many years. Although published in 2008, I actually began writing Nora's Soul many years before (I won't say how many!) and I plotted out much of the series long before other books about angels even hit the shelves. I just haven't had as much exposure for my book as others have because I didn't have a marketing team or big publishing house behind me. So I could argue the point that I set the trend - but I won't. That's not the point of this post.

So what are your thoughts on writing to trend? Are you for it, against it? Do you think it has an adverse effect on writing in general? I'd love to see what you have to say on the subject.

Wistful Wednesday

Pulling Words Out of the Air

Do you ever sit staring desperately at the blank screen while the cursor blinks in mockery of what you are, wondering if the words will ever come to you to write this darn thing? Do you ever start to wonder why you keep doing this to yourself and wonder if you should just give it all up - just before the words fall into your lap like so many snowflakes, each one unique and beautiful alone, but a magnificent thing to behold once they're gathered all together in one place. That's what this wonderful, frustrating thing we call writing is really like. Forget all the stereotypes you've read about, this is the real deal.

I think when people who don't write think about writers and the art or act of writing, they immediately call to mind images of JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Stephen King, James Patterson and the like, and immediately believe that the life of a writer is so glamorous. Books being sold by the millions, world-wide fervor from eager fans, film rights and red carpet premieres, rubbing elbows with stars. Yeah. Okay. Stop. Rewind. Back to the actual writing end of it.

For most of us, the act of writing is that moment when you are sitting at your desk, staring at a blank screen and convincing yourself that the cursor is laughing at you because the words won't come. It's the wonderful time when the idea first comes and you think, "This is it! This is the idea that's going to become my best book yet!" Followed by a mad period of brainstorming, researching (wow, who knew there was so much to discover about mermaids? Aren't they just mythical creatures - can't we just make this stuff up? Oh, wait, too much research, got to write now), outlining (well, okay, so I'll just sketch out the idea and go from there - wow, look at all those details! Okay, so technically, this can be my first draft), sitting down to write the first chapter - Hooray! I'm going to write the first chapter now. Chapter One. The first. Numero Uno. Why the heck can't I come up with a first line?

Because it has to be perfect, that's why. It has to pack a punch, hook the reader. If your story doesn't hook the reader with the first line, chances are it won't with the next one or the one after that, either. Readers want to be reeled in right away, immediate payoff. I blame the Internet, where everything comes to you the moment you want it - maybe they should call it the Instantnet because that's basically what it is, an instrument that brings things to people in an instant. Damn instant gratification anyway! Whatever happened to the slow build where the writer was really able to establish a sense of place and time before getting into the meat of the story? That's getting such a bad reputation these days. Nobody has time for the slow build. They want to be dropped into the action on the first page and pulled through with nonstop action to the last one. Do they know how exhausting that is to write that?

Especially when the words won't come. When that all important first line dangles just out of reach and you really begin to question the sanity of this path you've chosen. Why did I want to do this? you might wonder. What was the attraction in the first place? I'm a relatively sane person, so why would I want to put myself through this craziness every time a moderately interesting idea for a story presents itself to me?

And just as you are about to pack it all in and find something else to occupy what little time you have between work, family and life, you pull the words of the air - somehow - and that all important first line stares back at you from the no-longer blank page and this time, the cursor winks at you in approval. That-a girl, you can do it. Thank you, cursor, I think I will. So you type another line. Hmm, that's not half bad. Then another. Oh, I like that one. And another. Wow, I've really got something here! And before you know it, your fingers are flying along the keyboard in a mad dance of letters and punctuation marks that represent everything you have ever dreamed of - a novel. Before you know it, you are typing the final words of your masterpiece and you are just starting to feel a sense of accomplishment when you realize that it isn't finished. You have to go back and edit the thing, over and over, until it is Just Right, and edit it some more when you finally sell it to a publisher, which is okay because this is what you wanted. This is the realization of your dream, the true nuts and bolts of this thing we call writing. And hey, someone really likes your story and wants to put it between two fancy covers and sell it to the world, so the least you can do is revise it one more time, right?

If only that new idea wasn't kicking around in your head, demanding attention...

So forget the stereotypes you see in the movies and the examples of writers who've become megastars and get just as much attention on the red carpet as the actors who bring their characters to life. You can dream about that being your destiny, yes, but the truth of the matter is, it probably won't. If you want to be a writer, a true writer, you must prepare yourself to do a lot of it. Writing. Word after word after word. So make sure it's an idea that you really like and want to spend a lot of time with because you will, and be prepared for the reality that only a small portion of the population will ever read it. But don't despair. Remember, always, the true reason why you are writing. For me, it's because I couldn't imagine doing anything else, I'm obsessed with the idea/act of putting words down on paper, and it's the only time in my life that I can totally make things up, tell the biggest lie, kill someone without going to jail for it, give the Mean Girl her due, be the ultimate mother/kickass heroine/daredevil - and all without ever leaving my house! Ah, what a life! Remember, if you write for the right reasons - i.e., because you're driven to it and you truly, madly love it, as I do - then your writing will always be right. It's when you write with the idea that you want to make millions that your writing doesn't ring true. Sure it would be nice to make a tidy profit from it, but for me, the true payoff is the satisfaction I get when a total stranger says to me, "I really like your book." All I can say to that is, "Thank you."

Now, where should I go off to today? I wonder what's happening in Paris...or maybe Vienna. Oh, Scotland! Ireland...

(Incidentally, this post is a good example of Pulling Words Out of the Air. When I sat down to write it this morning, I had a blank screen, a sarcastic cursor - and no idea of what I was going to write today! But it came to me.)

Tantalizing Tuesday

Dukes are Different From You and Me

by 

Kelly McClymer

One of the things that I love most as a reader (and sometimes writer)

of historical romance is the opportunity to spend a few hours back in
the day without having to actually live back in the day (one of the
big disadvantages to time travel, should it actually ever be
invented). I like running water. Hot running water.

Sometimes, readers, reviewers, or critics will make a disparaging
comment about the way historical romance novels are peopled with more
dukes than have ever been created in England's rather lengthy history.
As someone who has studied that history, I know the critics are right.
But I don't care. Sure, if my research tells me that there weren't
many unmarried dukes who qualified for the lead role of hero in a
romance I have to admit I'm taking liberties. But so are my heroes, so
I just have to hope that readers forgive me.

There are many aspects of Victorian England  that interest me.
Victoria, for one. Became Queen because her uncles were not that good
at passing on the genes, married a man she loved, had nine children,
worn mourning for the rest of her life after her husband died at a
relatively young age. Reputedly loved her stable master in her later
years.

But the other thing that has always fascinated me about Victorian
England was the idea that an Earl, or a Duke, or a Marquess, inherits
a heavy mantle of duty, responsibility and history with each
successive generation. What does that do to a person, to know that
you're "it"? You represent the family motto, every ancestor in the
portrait gallery, and your people in the House of Lords. Sure, it
comes with power, but it also comes with responsibility (if you're the
hero).

Of the seven books in my Once Upon a Wedding series, half have peers
for heroes (despite my agreement with the critics that I'm stretching
history almost to the breaking point). The Fairy Tale Bride has the
upright Duke of Kerstone who doesn't think he is a worthy living
representation of his family motto. The Star-Crossed Bride has
Valentine the penniless Baron who really should marry for money not
love. The Next Best Bride has an earl in line to inherit a marquisate,
but with no money of his own unless he can marry and produce an heir
to satisfy his grandfather the current marquess. The Twelfth Night
Bride has an Irish peer -- a conundrum in its own right -- who hasn't
got a lot of use for the English, though he does have a seat in
Parliament.

Each of these heroes fascinates me, and each represents one way I
think a person might react to inheriting such weighty responsibility:
the Duke of Kerstone is impeccably proper and ready to die to keep the
dukely bloodline true; Valentine has six sisters to marry off, but he
still finds time to rescue his lady love, even though she isn't going
to bring any funds with her to the marriage; the unrepentantly rakish
earl is planning to gamble and drink himself into an early grave to
avoid the responsibilities of his title; the Irish peer is determined
to use his title to get a little justice. Everyone reacts differently
to power, but most people don't inherit it, they earn it, or are given
it by people who trust them whether they deserve it or not.

Not the dukes and marquesses and earls in historical romances. They
get the weight on their shoulders from birth (except the ones who get
it dropped on them unexpectedly when they didn't really think they'd
inherit…kind of like Victoria herself, come to think of it). They
don't get to do a thing without knowing that it will reflect on their
family honor and legacy. It was fun to think about what that must feel
like (without having to actually having to live with that kind of
weight, of course).

And, since my novels are historical romances, there are the women who
would marry men with such heavy responsibilities on their shoulders. I
wouldn't do it myself. To have to behave impeccably because I'd
tarnish my husband's 400 year old family reputation? No thank you. But
it was fun to imagine what kind of woman could love these men, and
bring them a measure of happiness amidst all the responsibility (not
to mention straighten out their thinking where the weight of the title
had warped it a bit).

And then, of course, I got to escape all that with the other three
books -- sending one heroine off to Boston and another onto the Oregon
Trail. And sending one haring off across England in search of Malory's
Morte d'Artur with her scholarly hero.

My own family can trace our roots back to Ireland, but there aren't
any queens or kings, or even knights in the family line. Just people
who worked the land for the dukes and earls and barons. (History
tidbit: earls and barons are the oldest titles, dukes were almost
exclusively royal for a long time after they were created, and
marquesses and viscounts were added for gradation purposes).

I know some writers like the power part of the title. Me, I like to
flip over the power side and see what's underneath. If I had to
choose, I'd be a Duchess. A boring, and very responsible duchess, who
made everyone call her Your Grace, even the Duke.

Kelly McClymer's The Fairy Tale Bride is on sale for 99 cents until
July ends to help raise funds for her daughter's wedding (a weighty
responsibility she tried not to shoulder -- but when push came to
shove, elopement just didn't seem like as good an idea in practice asit sounded in theory).

Places to find Kelly:

Website: http://kellymcclymer.com
Twitter: kellymcclymer
FaceBook: http://facebook.com/kellymcclymerbooks.com
LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/jRqm8P