Plots are the work of the devil. Yes, I'm sorry, but they are. They join internal conflict in their very own special circle of hell. At least, in my own personal writing hell. Why is this you say? Well, because in Modern Heat land (and no doubt in Modern/Presents land too), the plot needs to be driven by the characters. But surely every plot is driven by the characters? After all, without any characters, you wouldn't have a plot right?
It's true that of course without any characters you wouldn't have a plot, but it does not mean that every plot is character driven. This is something that I have slowly been coming to learn over the past few months, especially after Michelle pointed out the flaws in my synopses. In fact, it was something I already knew, but just didn't understand until now.
So what's the difference? Well, I'm still learning and naturally enough I am no expert but here's what I see as the difference. In your suspense/mystery/SF/fantasy/paranormal etc the action is usually plot driven. This is when external circumstances force the characters to act. But character driven plots are where the action is driven by decisions and actions the character makes themselves and not due to external circumstances (which is why internal conflict is so important because this affects how they act). Now, feel free to tell me this is a load of old bollocks and I've got it wrong, but that's what I think is the difference.
Anyway, like I said, for Modern Heat, the action/plot must be driven by the hero and heroine. Which means that if you have an overly complicated set up, you end up forcing your h&h to act in response to your plot, and not because of decisions or actions that they make themselves. Which in turn can make them act in a contrived way. Does that make sense?
A prime example of this is my rejected ms - which was rejected partly because of the setup and because I was trying to force my heroine into acting in a way that she wouldn't. My setup was that my heroine had to use an internet dating site to set up a blind date for research she was doing into the internet dating scene. This was not the problem. The problem was that I had made my heroine a socially inept geek for whom blind dates and dating full stop was anaethma. Good in terms of setting up tension, but not so good for a character driven plot. Why not? Well, why would a socially inept geek want this assignment in the first place? And so I had to make her go through with it by setting up a pushy friend, a broken relationship she wanted to get over, a boss that would fire her if she didn't, etc, etc. You see how I complicated everything? Just so I could force my poor heroine to go on her date.
Now making this setup character driven would have been easy if only I had made my heroine make the decision to go through with the date herself. So she takes charge of the action rather than her responding to the actions of the plot. Maybe she took the blind date assignment because she wanted to do something different, maybe she took it because she wanted to change her life. But in order to make her take charge, she would have to have been a different sort heroine, with a different sort of conflict, and that would mean rewriting the whole book - hence the rejection.
Which brings me to the current wip. I have a fake engagement in the middle of it and although this does stem from an action the character takes, I fear I have manipulated things in order to make the character take that action rather than letting things take their natural course. Since this is in the synopsis I have submitted, I'm slightly reluctant to take it out but my instinct is to do so. Should I trust my instinct I wonder? But that's a whole other post so I'll stop there!
What does everyone else think about character driven plots? Does this make sense or am I barking up the wrong tree? Maybe I'm simply barking full stop!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Conflict Sorted
Back from the joys of Rotorua. Was lovely actually - the highlight being the spa in the motel (sadly heated by gas and not by hot volcanic rocks) and a night time visit to a wildlife park where we saw a kiwi. You'd think, being an NZ'er, I would have seen tonnes and tonnes of kiwis just running around wild right? Not so. I have seen them of course but only in zoos. They are nocturnal and keep away from humans so to see one in their natural habitat without any glass or bars was kind of cool.
Anyway, one of the other highlights was figuring out my hero's internal conflict! Yay! Admittedly it was really my husband's idea, so full credit to him. He's a psychiatrist you see and this can be very useful when it comes to figuring out conflict and motivations. In the end it wasn't that hard though - again, I have been over-complicating it (me? over complicate? Never!) and adding too much other stuff. I think I have a tendency to do this as I'm peeling away the layers of his character - I'm giving the wretched man too many layers in other words! Either that or the focus isn't as sharp as it should be. Whatever the case, his dead mother is the key. Now all I have to do is avoid any pesky Oedipus complexes... :-)
So, my mission this week is to continue editing the WIP and then, once I've pulled all the strands together, finish it. Which will then let me start writing my bright, new, shiny idea. Luckily with the new idea, all conflicts have been sorted and are ready to fly.
As to the partial - four weeks tomorrow. Not that I'm counting or anything. :-)
What's everyone else up to?
Anyway, one of the other highlights was figuring out my hero's internal conflict! Yay! Admittedly it was really my husband's idea, so full credit to him. He's a psychiatrist you see and this can be very useful when it comes to figuring out conflict and motivations. In the end it wasn't that hard though - again, I have been over-complicating it (me? over complicate? Never!) and adding too much other stuff. I think I have a tendency to do this as I'm peeling away the layers of his character - I'm giving the wretched man too many layers in other words! Either that or the focus isn't as sharp as it should be. Whatever the case, his dead mother is the key. Now all I have to do is avoid any pesky Oedipus complexes... :-)
So, my mission this week is to continue editing the WIP and then, once I've pulled all the strands together, finish it. Which will then let me start writing my bright, new, shiny idea. Luckily with the new idea, all conflicts have been sorted and are ready to fly.
As to the partial - four weeks tomorrow. Not that I'm counting or anything. :-)
What's everyone else up to?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Going to Roto-Vegas
We're off for a couple of days down to Rotorua, the home of boiling mud, hot pools and the smell of rotting eggs. The husband has a conference there and after days of trying and failing to get my hero's conflict sorted, I'm hoping that a break will give me some ideas too.Rotorua is the 'land of passion' as you can see by this April Fool's day ad that was run through various papers this year, so perhaps the smell will give me some inspiration! I am going to be taking my little laptop with me anyway and hope to have some time to give the wip a re-read, perhaps try to figure out just what I'm doing. I've got three strands of conflict that I could conceivably use but at the moment don't know which one to pursue. And all three is going to be way too complicated to resolve in 50k words. I'm hoping it will become clear in the fullness of time but boy, the man is being ridiculously opaque.
Oh, and why Roto-Vegas? Well, it's a bit of a NZ in-joke. We call it Roto-Vegas because Rotorua is NZ's answer to Las Vegas. Don't know why really because I don't think there are any casinos/burlesque shows/huge neon signs/deserts/Elvis impersonators in Rotorua. But it does have lots and lots of motels/hotels and tourist type stuff to do, not to mention being quite expensive. Ah well, at the moment, being winter here, I'll just settle for a nice hot spa to sit in with a glass of cold bubbly by my side, and perhaps my current hero in tight swim shorts to feed me grapes...but don't tell the husband that. ;-)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Black Moments
Ah, the black moment. The best part of a romance. At least, it's one of my favourites. I do love writing them. If I haven't made at least one of my characters cry and/or reach for the medicinal scotch then I feel I haven't done a very good job. In fact both crying and reaching for the scotch are both good outcomes for me. I like also to have them be mean to each other. In fact, being mean to each other is great to write. No physical violence obviously (unless it's the medicinal scotch against a wall) but there does tend to be lots of cutting remarks, hateful sarcasm and downright lashing out.
Being hurtful has to be well motivated though, which is why the black moment is so great. Because all that emotion has to be got out somehow and when you're scared and angry and confused, that's what you do. It's also where you say the things you'd never say normally. That's when my characters confront each other with the big questions, the ones they've been dancing around the whole book. And the big questions don't have easy answers because this is internal conflict here and it's not easy to resolve (otherwise there wouldn't be a book, right?).
I think it's in writing the black moment that I love writing romance the most. All the emotion in it is so powerful. Those gutwrenching, painful scenes are also great because if you've written them well and your reader is thinking 'how on earth are these two going to work it out?' , it makes the resolution that much more wonderful.
Actually, sometimes in the first draft, I don't know how they'll work it out. I have a general idea but it's not until I'm in the thick of it that'll I realise what they need to do in order to be together. In fact, sometimes it's not until that black moment that I understand that what I think the conflict is, is actually something deeper. My current WIP I know is going to be along those lines. There's going to be something in that black moment for both my characters that I haven't figured out yet. Obviously they're both afraid (because fear is at the root of it) and I generally know why but I have a feeling there's going to be more to it than what I initially thought. Better get on to it, hadn't I?!
So, what's your favourite scene to write?
Being hurtful has to be well motivated though, which is why the black moment is so great. Because all that emotion has to be got out somehow and when you're scared and angry and confused, that's what you do. It's also where you say the things you'd never say normally. That's when my characters confront each other with the big questions, the ones they've been dancing around the whole book. And the big questions don't have easy answers because this is internal conflict here and it's not easy to resolve (otherwise there wouldn't be a book, right?).
I think it's in writing the black moment that I love writing romance the most. All the emotion in it is so powerful. Those gutwrenching, painful scenes are also great because if you've written them well and your reader is thinking 'how on earth are these two going to work it out?' , it makes the resolution that much more wonderful.
Actually, sometimes in the first draft, I don't know how they'll work it out. I have a general idea but it's not until I'm in the thick of it that'll I realise what they need to do in order to be together. In fact, sometimes it's not until that black moment that I understand that what I think the conflict is, is actually something deeper. My current WIP I know is going to be along those lines. There's going to be something in that black moment for both my characters that I haven't figured out yet. Obviously they're both afraid (because fear is at the root of it) and I generally know why but I have a feeling there's going to be more to it than what I initially thought. Better get on to it, hadn't I?!
So, what's your favourite scene to write?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
The Hook - Vital Plot Element or Unnecessary Complication?
Okay, you'll all be pleased to know that I'm done with the crows (until I hear from the eds I guess but NTAI!). My poor climber has been left to languish at a crucial moment so I should probably get back to him and give him his HEA. However, my sticking point is my plot. I have a fake engagement hook in the middle of it and though it stems from actions the characters themselves take, I'm wondering if it's a tad unbelievable. It's purpose is mainly to force the h&h together and maybe to deepen his conflict a bit but I'm still doubtful about it. Do they really need something to force them together? Can't they just be together because they're having a hot affair? I'm at 44k already and the black moment isn't coming for a wee while yet, so maybe my fake engagement is just an unnecessary complication...
The other thing I'm having doubts about is my timeline. Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else think that two weeks is an awfully short time to fall in love? Or is it just the nature of the genre and two weeks is fine and I'm being overly picky?
I don't know. Until I get over these stumbling blocks, I'm not sure I can finish the WIP. Might just wait until I hear back about whether the story is a goer or not.
Anyway, in the meantime, I have gone back to rewriting my Feel the Heat entry. It's so much better now I've got the conflict sorted! Since the editorial assistant asked me about it, I think I might submit that one next should the other one not succeed.
Ah conflict, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways....
The other thing I'm having doubts about is my timeline. Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else think that two weeks is an awfully short time to fall in love? Or is it just the nature of the genre and two weeks is fine and I'm being overly picky?
I don't know. Until I get over these stumbling blocks, I'm not sure I can finish the WIP. Might just wait until I hear back about whether the story is a goer or not.
Anyway, in the meantime, I have gone back to rewriting my Feel the Heat entry. It's so much better now I've got the conflict sorted! Since the editorial assistant asked me about it, I think I might submit that one next should the other one not succeed.
Ah conflict, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways....
Monday, July 13, 2009
Hard Slog
Well, coming into the home straight with my re-write of my climber story, but it feels at the moment like wading through treacle. Not quite sure why. I'm really having to force myself to keep going with this one. Initially I was quite excited about it but the last third of the book has been a struggle. Maybe it's because although I know where the conflict is going, the action feels slow and - yes, go on, say it - boring. Or maybe it's just having to wrestle with my submission doubt and wishing I would hear back about it so I can get some clear direction about how to proceed. No chance of that in the near future!
It doesn't help having a bright and shiny new idea that's calling to me. It feels wrong to leave the climber story unfinished while I immerse myself in the excitement of a new story. Then again, a change is as good as a rest huh? Hmmm, might just go and do a quick synopsis... ;-)
It doesn't help having a bright and shiny new idea that's calling to me. It feels wrong to leave the climber story unfinished while I immerse myself in the excitement of a new story. Then again, a change is as good as a rest huh? Hmmm, might just go and do a quick synopsis... ;-)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Presents Writing Competition
Great news re the new competition at I Heart Presents. Another fabulous opportunity for people to bypass the usual wait and get their stuff in front of an editor.
Seeing as how I was a runner up in the previous comp and given what I've learned since, thought I'd post a few bits of advice for those keen to enter.
I posted some of the editorial feedback I received from my competition entry last year on my blog so do feel free to look through the blog archives if you want to see what they told me about mine. And why it wasn't successful! I think the entry is still up on the I Heart Presents site in the archives somewhere (they didn't put it up until this year - January I think), so it may be useful to read it and then look at the feedback they posted afterward (this is not a subtle attempt to get people to read my writing by the way, more a look at what they liked and what they didn't).
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm not published but like I said, I've learned a great deal since last year's competition so I may be able to help. The final caveat though is that all of this is my own opinion - the one that really counts is the editors.
Good luck everyone!
Seeing as how I was a runner up in the previous comp and given what I've learned since, thought I'd post a few bits of advice for those keen to enter.
- The key to the romance is the conflict, especially internal conflict. To work out your internal conflict, put the h&h in a room with no one else, no car chases or kidnaps, and ask yourself why can't they be together right now? It must be something inside the characters, their thoughts, feelings, and experiences that make them think they cannot be together. And their reasons must be strong. It can't just because the heroine doesn't like rich men or the fact that he's arrogant. Why doesn't she like rich men? Why doesn't she like arrogance?
- Your readers will live through your heroine so make her someone that everyone can imagine being. Someone that everyone can relate to. Stay away from stereotypes and extremes of behaviour.
- Stick to the guidelines (ie don't add paranormal elements to what is obviously not a paranormal line).
- Read as many Modern/Modern Heat as you can get your hands on.
- Remember the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid. Which means don't overcomplicate your plot with intricate suspense elements, lots of secondary characters, or subplots. Keep the focus on the h&h and their conflict.
- These are short romances so the hero must appear - ideally - in the first page or two, and he must be alpha. The guidelines for the MH hero have changed a bit - he's more alpha than he used to be so keep that in mind.
I posted some of the editorial feedback I received from my competition entry last year on my blog so do feel free to look through the blog archives if you want to see what they told me about mine. And why it wasn't successful! I think the entry is still up on the I Heart Presents site in the archives somewhere (they didn't put it up until this year - January I think), so it may be useful to read it and then look at the feedback they posted afterward (this is not a subtle attempt to get people to read my writing by the way, more a look at what they liked and what they didn't).
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'm not published but like I said, I've learned a great deal since last year's competition so I may be able to help. The final caveat though is that all of this is my own opinion - the one that really counts is the editors.
Good luck everyone!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Submission Doubt
I've put up my scarecrow again because I've got submission doubt and need something to scare away the crows.These are particularly ornery ones I have to say. It wasn't so bad the first time around because I was just so pleased to have had a full request. And true, the first lot of revisions were pretty intense but then, woohoo, I'd made it to the full-with-revisions stage and that was a great achievement.
But now I'm starting over and I'm wondering if I can do it again. Published authors must get this when it's time to submit that second book and you have to prove that the first one was more than a fluke. Obviously I'm not at that stage yet but the full-with-revisions is a pretty high benchmark to have to repeat. What if I can't? What if they don't like the story? I think it's better than my rejected manuscript - I've learned so much since then - but what if I've missed something vital?
Well, as Michelle S told me, the only thing I can control is the writing. I have to trust that it's a good story and hope that they'll want to see the rest of it. So I shall, which is why I'm continuing with writing the rest of it. And if it isn't then ONE of my stories will get there. I'm damn well going to make certain of it.
I'd just like to say a big thanks at this point to all the lovely people who visit my sorry blog, and to all the other lovely people on the eHarlequin and Mills and Boon forums who have wished me luck. You guys are the best. Determination gets you a long way in this business but it certainly helps having other people being determined with you. So, thanks.
Anyway, I have had confirmation that my partial was received so it's on with the waiting. And the NTAI. :-)
PS. Did you know that the guidelines for Mills and Boon have been updated? Here they are here.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Sent
I've done it. Sent in my new sub last night. Was going to ship it around a few more people to read but, well, simply couldn't face fiddling with it any more and thought I'd just send it and forget it (sorry guys!).
Haven't heard whether Anna received it or not. I hope she lets me know since the last time I did this, she didn't actually get it! Oh well, will follow up on Friday if I don't hear.
So now it's time to NTAI and rewrite the rest of the manuscript!
Haven't heard whether Anna received it or not. I hope she lets me know since the last time I did this, she didn't actually get it! Oh well, will follow up on Friday if I don't hear.
So now it's time to NTAI and rewrite the rest of the manuscript!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Active vs Reactive
I've been thinking lately about Michelle's advice re my characters being reactive as opposed to active. At least that's what they were in my original synopsis. I never really thought about this before - of course they were active, they were walking and talking and making decisions, right?
But that is not being active. They didn't take charge of the story. They sat there and waited for stuff to happen to them.
I found this happened with chapter 1 of my re-write. I was feeling unhappy with what I'd done and I couldn't figure out what the problem was. And then the light dawned: my hero was looking at the heroine waiting for her to come to him. The heroine was looking at the hero, too bound up in her conflict to actually take that step. The consequence was lots of staring but not much doing. No action at all. What needed to happen was one of them needed to act.
Had to be the hero - my mountain climber wouldn't stand around staring, he'd get out there and get what he wanted. So this my hero did. He got out and took charge of the scene, making the heroine have to act intstead of her just sitting there waiting for something to happen. And it's a much, much better scene now. It has movement. It's more pacey. And sets off a whole chain of choices and actions that bring both characters slap bang up against their internal conflict. Phew!
Anyway, this kind of thing is new to me so I'm going to have to keep thinking about it as the book progresses. I have to say, being conscious of having your story flow from the choices your characters make, certainly makes things more dynamic. Which for me - a very waffly writer - is a very good thing. And it makes me more certain than ever that they were right to reject my earlier manuscript. The first half was so slow compared to the second half! Nothing a complete re-write wouldn't fix however. ;-)
Okay, I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks of this. Any insights?
But that is not being active. They didn't take charge of the story. They sat there and waited for stuff to happen to them.
I found this happened with chapter 1 of my re-write. I was feeling unhappy with what I'd done and I couldn't figure out what the problem was. And then the light dawned: my hero was looking at the heroine waiting for her to come to him. The heroine was looking at the hero, too bound up in her conflict to actually take that step. The consequence was lots of staring but not much doing. No action at all. What needed to happen was one of them needed to act.
Had to be the hero - my mountain climber wouldn't stand around staring, he'd get out there and get what he wanted. So this my hero did. He got out and took charge of the scene, making the heroine have to act intstead of her just sitting there waiting for something to happen. And it's a much, much better scene now. It has movement. It's more pacey. And sets off a whole chain of choices and actions that bring both characters slap bang up against their internal conflict. Phew!
Anyway, this kind of thing is new to me so I'm going to have to keep thinking about it as the book progresses. I have to say, being conscious of having your story flow from the choices your characters make, certainly makes things more dynamic. Which for me - a very waffly writer - is a very good thing. And it makes me more certain than ever that they were right to reject my earlier manuscript. The first half was so slow compared to the second half! Nothing a complete re-write wouldn't fix however. ;-)
Okay, I'd be interested to hear what anyone else thinks of this. Any insights?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Fine Art of Synopsis Writing
Right, forget flowery phrases. Sentences that scream 'look at me!'. Paragraphs that read well but don't actually tell you anything about the story. Throw them out of the window. Why? Because all your synopsis needs is the setting, the internal/external conflict, the evidence of growing attraction, the black moment and the resolution.
Yes, I have been thinking more about Michelle's advice, especially when it comes to writing the synopsis. The first one I did was full of the flowery phrases. It said nothing about how the characters grow and what they learn. It was full of 'he realises' and 'she realises' but nothing about why they realise that. So I wrote another one, and this was full of the 'why's, the internal conflict, what the heroine liked about the hero, what he liked about her, what they learned from each other, why they fell in love, why they couldn't be together and why, in the end, they were. But this one missed the turning points in the story, how it actually unfolded. Wrong again.
So this time I've done a third. And this time - I hope - I've done it right. This time I've actually included the 'hows'. Like instead of just saying ' he shows her that a little risk isn't a bad thing'. I've said how he does this by taking her bungy jumping and rock climbing. And when he comes to realise he needs the heroine in his life, instead of saying 'he suddenly realises....' I've given him some bad news about his father that the heroine is able to help him through, thus showing him what it's like to have support when he needs it.
Okay, it's not perfect, and until I get the okay from the editors, it may not be right, but it's SO much better than my previous effort. And this is a typical two page deal. Michelle said I should be able to write a synopsis in one page and let me tell you, it was difficult exercise. But I managed it! I would actually recommend everyone give this a go. It certainly boils your story down to the most basic nuts and bolts, and it's a great way to see if there are any plot/conflict holes. In much the same way as writing a synopsis centered just on the conflict can be useful too.
Anyway, that's my two cents worth today. This may be self evident to others but it was certainly a big step forward to me. As a pantser extraordinaire, doing a synopsis before I actually start writing is a huge acheivement. Who'd have thought it would help? :-) And it's given me a great start for writing the rest of the story - two chapters down and one to go before spit, polish and send. :-)
Yes, I have been thinking more about Michelle's advice, especially when it comes to writing the synopsis. The first one I did was full of the flowery phrases. It said nothing about how the characters grow and what they learn. It was full of 'he realises' and 'she realises' but nothing about why they realise that. So I wrote another one, and this was full of the 'why's, the internal conflict, what the heroine liked about the hero, what he liked about her, what they learned from each other, why they fell in love, why they couldn't be together and why, in the end, they were. But this one missed the turning points in the story, how it actually unfolded. Wrong again.
So this time I've done a third. And this time - I hope - I've done it right. This time I've actually included the 'hows'. Like instead of just saying ' he shows her that a little risk isn't a bad thing'. I've said how he does this by taking her bungy jumping and rock climbing. And when he comes to realise he needs the heroine in his life, instead of saying 'he suddenly realises....' I've given him some bad news about his father that the heroine is able to help him through, thus showing him what it's like to have support when he needs it.
Okay, it's not perfect, and until I get the okay from the editors, it may not be right, but it's SO much better than my previous effort. And this is a typical two page deal. Michelle said I should be able to write a synopsis in one page and let me tell you, it was difficult exercise. But I managed it! I would actually recommend everyone give this a go. It certainly boils your story down to the most basic nuts and bolts, and it's a great way to see if there are any plot/conflict holes. In much the same way as writing a synopsis centered just on the conflict can be useful too.
Anyway, that's my two cents worth today. This may be self evident to others but it was certainly a big step forward to me. As a pantser extraordinaire, doing a synopsis before I actually start writing is a huge acheivement. Who'd have thought it would help? :-) And it's given me a great start for writing the rest of the story - two chapters down and one to go before spit, polish and send. :-)
Monday, June 22, 2009
You Learn Something New Every Day
Well, what a weekend it's been. My poor husband has been in despair. Mainly because I am being very mono-manic about my writing!
Why? Because I've been inspired! After the wonderful Michelle Styles offered to look over the synopses of my next two subs, I have been having lightbulb moment after lightbulb moment. I think I must be very slow with learning all of this stuff because Michelle did point out things that Anna has already said to me, but for some reason I didn't see it in the manuscripts I've already written. Maybe it's to do with having new eyes to see the wood in spite of the trees, or maybe it's because I only focussed on fixing one thing to the detriment of all the rest, but whatever, the main thing is that it will mean RE-WRITING BOTH ENTIRE MANUSCRIPTS! Argh.
So? What were the problems? I'll point out the things from my climbing story:
1. The internal conflict was complicated for the heroine (again) and my hero was too self aware. There was no clear reason why they couldn't be together.
2. The two characters must grow from the experience. They must learn things from each other. Again, it wasn't clear what the h&h learned from each other or how they were changed at the end.
3. I didn't give any reasons as to why my hero was willing to give up the thing that made him who he was for my heroine. Neither did I make it clear why my heroine would overcome her fear of commitment for my hero other than the fact that she loved him. Why did she love him? Why did he love her?
4. My story was episodic. One scene didn't lead particularly well into the next.
5. My characters were reactive not active. In other words they reacted to stuff that happened to them, they didn't drive the story along by taking action themselves.
Phew! Quite a bit of stuff. And those were just the main points. There were other problems too. Fixing all of this was actually surprisingly easy once the faults were pointed out. To fix things I:
1. Gave my heroine some internal conflict that made getting involved with my hero her worst nightmare. Made my hero peripatetic and loving his freedom, who finds my heroine's need for security claustrophobic.
2. My heroine will learn stuff about herself from the hero and will use what she's learned to eventually get the hero. My hero will learn he can't live without the heroine, that her qualities are what's missing from his life, that he can't do without them, and what happens to make him realise this.
3. I gave them both qualities that each find attractive in the other. The heroine loved the excitement that the hero's risk taking brought into her life. The hero likes my heroine's bravery in how she goes along with one of his schemes even though she deems it risky.
4 & 5. I made the characters decide the flow of events rather than letting lots of outside forces determine the action. This makes them drive the story forward.
I've also learned HEAPS about synopsis writing. It really is an art. I thought I had it but no, I didn't! I am still fiddling around with the current synopsis but it's much better than it was and is certainly a great blueprint for how the story will follow.
Anyway, I'm all energised and desperate to get into writing. I want this story to be the one!
Once again, huge thanks to Michelle for her time. I really feel like I've come a long way since last week!
Why? Because I've been inspired! After the wonderful Michelle Styles offered to look over the synopses of my next two subs, I have been having lightbulb moment after lightbulb moment. I think I must be very slow with learning all of this stuff because Michelle did point out things that Anna has already said to me, but for some reason I didn't see it in the manuscripts I've already written. Maybe it's to do with having new eyes to see the wood in spite of the trees, or maybe it's because I only focussed on fixing one thing to the detriment of all the rest, but whatever, the main thing is that it will mean RE-WRITING BOTH ENTIRE MANUSCRIPTS! Argh.
So? What were the problems? I'll point out the things from my climbing story:
1. The internal conflict was complicated for the heroine (again) and my hero was too self aware. There was no clear reason why they couldn't be together.
2. The two characters must grow from the experience. They must learn things from each other. Again, it wasn't clear what the h&h learned from each other or how they were changed at the end.
3. I didn't give any reasons as to why my hero was willing to give up the thing that made him who he was for my heroine. Neither did I make it clear why my heroine would overcome her fear of commitment for my hero other than the fact that she loved him. Why did she love him? Why did he love her?
4. My story was episodic. One scene didn't lead particularly well into the next.
5. My characters were reactive not active. In other words they reacted to stuff that happened to them, they didn't drive the story along by taking action themselves.
Phew! Quite a bit of stuff. And those were just the main points. There were other problems too. Fixing all of this was actually surprisingly easy once the faults were pointed out. To fix things I:
1. Gave my heroine some internal conflict that made getting involved with my hero her worst nightmare. Made my hero peripatetic and loving his freedom, who finds my heroine's need for security claustrophobic.
2. My heroine will learn stuff about herself from the hero and will use what she's learned to eventually get the hero. My hero will learn he can't live without the heroine, that her qualities are what's missing from his life, that he can't do without them, and what happens to make him realise this.
3. I gave them both qualities that each find attractive in the other. The heroine loved the excitement that the hero's risk taking brought into her life. The hero likes my heroine's bravery in how she goes along with one of his schemes even though she deems it risky.
4 & 5. I made the characters decide the flow of events rather than letting lots of outside forces determine the action. This makes them drive the story forward.
I've also learned HEAPS about synopsis writing. It really is an art. I thought I had it but no, I didn't! I am still fiddling around with the current synopsis but it's much better than it was and is certainly a great blueprint for how the story will follow.
Anyway, I'm all energised and desperate to get into writing. I want this story to be the one!
Once again, huge thanks to Michelle for her time. I really feel like I've come a long way since last week!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Moving On - The Next Sub
I'm posting quick smart because I don't want my rejection post to be the first thing people see on my blog. It's been a hell of a process but it's done now and I'm moving on. And what better news to move on with than an email from Anna. After telling her that I had four manuscripts ready(ish), she told me to send her partials of the two I thought were strongest. Two!! Yay.
So now all I have to do is choose the two strongest. Not so yay because which one do I go for? One of them the conflict is still niggling at me so probably not that. It's another classic case of me having a set-up without really thinking through the internal conflict. However, the other three are all potentials. They are all very simple stories in that that there is no immediate, gimmicky set-up. The emphasis is entirely on the internal conflict. I've also steered clear of the stereotype trap I fell into with the previous stories in that they're fully rounded characters and not just a bunch of character quirks. At least, I hope I have.
But you know, it's funny. I was running through one of the stories with my husband last night and he said 'wow, you really problems with your heroines don't you?'. And I thought no I don't! Surely not. But he's right. My heroes conflicts are all clear cut, I find them simple to write. But my heroines always seem to take me ages to figure out. I wondered if it was because men just aren't that complicated - at least, that's what I told my husband - but actually, I think it's because my heroes are more important to me. I love writing them. And my heroines tend to suffer because they're just a foil for my amazing guy. Which was why my manuscript was rejected. The second half of the book was great, Anna told me, because it was all about my hero. The first half was about my heroine and just didn't work.
So, the next submission will have to concentrate on getting my heroine right. Argh! Choices, choices... :-)
So now all I have to do is choose the two strongest. Not so yay because which one do I go for? One of them the conflict is still niggling at me so probably not that. It's another classic case of me having a set-up without really thinking through the internal conflict. However, the other three are all potentials. They are all very simple stories in that that there is no immediate, gimmicky set-up. The emphasis is entirely on the internal conflict. I've also steered clear of the stereotype trap I fell into with the previous stories in that they're fully rounded characters and not just a bunch of character quirks. At least, I hope I have.
But you know, it's funny. I was running through one of the stories with my husband last night and he said 'wow, you really problems with your heroines don't you?'. And I thought no I don't! Surely not. But he's right. My heroes conflicts are all clear cut, I find them simple to write. But my heroines always seem to take me ages to figure out. I wondered if it was because men just aren't that complicated - at least, that's what I told my husband - but actually, I think it's because my heroes are more important to me. I love writing them. And my heroines tend to suffer because they're just a foil for my amazing guy. Which was why my manuscript was rejected. The second half of the book was great, Anna told me, because it was all about my hero. The first half was about my heroine and just didn't work.
So, the next submission will have to concentrate on getting my heroine right. Argh! Choices, choices... :-)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Final verdict is in and the jury decided: guilty.
In other words they didn't want my manuscript. Clearly the second opinion the EA got found too many things wrong with it and the fault was largely with my heroine. To be fair, I did write this last year before I knew all that I know now and I found it very difficult shoe-horning believable conflict into a premise that probably shouldn't have flown in the first place. I probably should have rewritten the whole thing from the start.
Anyway, all is not lost. They told me they saw great potential in me as a writer and that I didn't need the pitch slot I had booked for the RWNZ conference because I already had their attention and continued feedback (I'm hoping!). And basically I should send them whatever I'm working on now. I emailed Anna back and told her I had four completed manuscripts and which one did she want to see? :-) Bit cheeky I guess.
So, today, I need to have a good wallow, and deal with my disappointment - which is mainly focussed on having to begin the waiting process again. It's been very hard and it will be hard to face another year while they decide on something else.
You guys have been great with all the support you've given me. And - this is silly I know - but I feel like I've disappointed everyone. I hope I haven't. I hope I'll be able to post something a lot more positive in the future and repay all that good faith, because obviously I'm not giving up. Not in the slightest. I'm going to do this no matter how long it takes me.
In other words they didn't want my manuscript. Clearly the second opinion the EA got found too many things wrong with it and the fault was largely with my heroine. To be fair, I did write this last year before I knew all that I know now and I found it very difficult shoe-horning believable conflict into a premise that probably shouldn't have flown in the first place. I probably should have rewritten the whole thing from the start.
Anyway, all is not lost. They told me they saw great potential in me as a writer and that I didn't need the pitch slot I had booked for the RWNZ conference because I already had their attention and continued feedback (I'm hoping!). And basically I should send them whatever I'm working on now. I emailed Anna back and told her I had four completed manuscripts and which one did she want to see? :-) Bit cheeky I guess.
So, today, I need to have a good wallow, and deal with my disappointment - which is mainly focussed on having to begin the waiting process again. It's been very hard and it will be hard to face another year while they decide on something else.
You guys have been great with all the support you've given me. And - this is silly I know - but I feel like I've disappointed everyone. I hope I haven't. I hope I'll be able to post something a lot more positive in the future and repay all that good faith, because obviously I'm not giving up. Not in the slightest. I'm going to do this no matter how long it takes me.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
A Wobbly Moment
To all those lovely people who have offered advice and support over the past week or so, thank you so much. You've made me feel hugely better about this waiting game that I'm playing. For someone who absolutely loathes waiting and who is naturally impatient, this has been a real lesson and I'm just so grateful to have understanding ears to pour all of my whines into. :-)
So, I'm feeling much better about waiting on Anna to get back to me, although I had a wobbly moment on Saturday when I found out I didn't final in a contest I had high hopes of. It's funny how the fact of not finalling suddenly made me doubt my writing and doubt the stories I had entered. Maybe they were boring? Maybe I'm not as good as I think I am? Maybe I was arrogant in thinking I would final in the first place? Sigh. Whatever, it's a good lesson in humility and just goes to show that even when you think you're doing quite well, there will always be people who don't agree.
It actually got me thinking that that it won't be any easier if I'm published. You'll always be worrying about whether the editor likes your next book, whether anyone will buy it, whether they'll like it, and if they don't like it, how to cope with bad reviews. Scary stuff. Obviously I need to start growing a thicker skin.
That wasn't a blatant play for sympathy, by the way, merely a little sulk. I'm over it now - retail therapy courtesy of Great Uncle Visa certainly helped, as did large amounts of chocolate. :-)
Speaking of contests, I just wanted to say a big woohoo to Rach! She finalled in the Valerie Parv and the Great Beginnings contest! That girl's got talent and if she doesn't sell soon, I'll eat my cotton socks. WTG, Rach.
Oh, and you know I mentioned I computer game I bought for my birthday? Well, it's called The Sims 3 and it's kind of like a real life simulator. You manage the lives of virtual people. The reason I'm telling you this is that in the game, you can make your little people become writers and make money by selling books. And do you know which books make the most money in the game? Romance books!! If only that were as easy in real life... ;-)
So, I'm feeling much better about waiting on Anna to get back to me, although I had a wobbly moment on Saturday when I found out I didn't final in a contest I had high hopes of. It's funny how the fact of not finalling suddenly made me doubt my writing and doubt the stories I had entered. Maybe they were boring? Maybe I'm not as good as I think I am? Maybe I was arrogant in thinking I would final in the first place? Sigh. Whatever, it's a good lesson in humility and just goes to show that even when you think you're doing quite well, there will always be people who don't agree.
It actually got me thinking that that it won't be any easier if I'm published. You'll always be worrying about whether the editor likes your next book, whether anyone will buy it, whether they'll like it, and if they don't like it, how to cope with bad reviews. Scary stuff. Obviously I need to start growing a thicker skin.
That wasn't a blatant play for sympathy, by the way, merely a little sulk. I'm over it now - retail therapy courtesy of Great Uncle Visa certainly helped, as did large amounts of chocolate. :-)
Speaking of contests, I just wanted to say a big woohoo to Rach! She finalled in the Valerie Parv and the Great Beginnings contest! That girl's got talent and if she doesn't sell soon, I'll eat my cotton socks. WTG, Rach.
Oh, and you know I mentioned I computer game I bought for my birthday? Well, it's called The Sims 3 and it's kind of like a real life simulator. You manage the lives of virtual people. The reason I'm telling you this is that in the game, you can make your little people become writers and make money by selling books. And do you know which books make the most money in the game? Romance books!! If only that were as easy in real life... ;-)
Friday, June 12, 2009
We Apologise for the Delay - Normal Service Will Resume in a Fortnight
Yes, I have heard back from M&B. It was a lovely email letting me know that there has been a delay and that I'll get my feedback within a fortnight. Sigh. It's very nice of them to let me know this - they certainly didn't have to send me anything at all - so I'm very grateful for the heads up.
But I admit to feeling a tad...tortured! The email only mentioned 'feedback' so I have to say I'm expecting the worst. This may seem premature and fatalistic but at this point that's how I feel. I was wondering if they can't just give me a hint - rejection or revisions! But I assume they can't tell me anything more because no one has made an official decision yet. Until the 'second opinion' has let the editorial assistant know the verdict, she can't say anything either way. Which is only my assumption of course, not knowing how these work, but I guess that's the reason. And I understand. I wouldn't want to be told 'yes, you're having revisions', only for her to come back and say, 'scrub what I told you, the official word is no'.
So,I shouldn't assume what they'll tell me because I don't really know. I guess I'm doing what I always do - assuming the worst so I won't be disappointed. This, by the way, never works! I should also resume my NTAI which I have to admit, is getting very hard. But forgetting about it is clearly the way to go. If only I could! :-)
Anyway, given the delay, I have emailed the editorial assistant to ask if it's appropriate for me to pitch another ms at our conference. I'm hoping she'll get back to me because I don't want to take up a slot if I don't need it.
Okay, that's my news. Anyone got anything good to share? I need some good news today. :-)
But I admit to feeling a tad...tortured! The email only mentioned 'feedback' so I have to say I'm expecting the worst. This may seem premature and fatalistic but at this point that's how I feel. I was wondering if they can't just give me a hint - rejection or revisions! But I assume they can't tell me anything more because no one has made an official decision yet. Until the 'second opinion' has let the editorial assistant know the verdict, she can't say anything either way. Which is only my assumption of course, not knowing how these work, but I guess that's the reason. And I understand. I wouldn't want to be told 'yes, you're having revisions', only for her to come back and say, 'scrub what I told you, the official word is no'.
So,I shouldn't assume what they'll tell me because I don't really know. I guess I'm doing what I always do - assuming the worst so I won't be disappointed. This, by the way, never works! I should also resume my NTAI which I have to admit, is getting very hard. But forgetting about it is clearly the way to go. If only I could! :-)
Anyway, given the delay, I have emailed the editorial assistant to ask if it's appropriate for me to pitch another ms at our conference. I'm hoping she'll get back to me because I don't want to take up a slot if I don't need it.
Okay, that's my news. Anyone got anything good to share? I need some good news today. :-)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
No News is Good News
No news this morning. Honestly, after all my nervousness and drinking of chocolate martinis the night before... Anyway, I kind of thought something like this might happen so I'm not too worried. I've waited over 3 months now so I can wait another couple of days. If it is a couple of days. Actually I hope I hear back before the end of June though. Got a pitch session booked for the RWNZ conference and I was hoping not to need it...
No doubt all will become clear in the fullness of time. :-)
No doubt all will become clear in the fullness of time. :-)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Happy Birthday To Me
Guess what day it is today? Yes, my birthday! And also - brace yourselves because I'm going to tell you how old I am - the last year of my thirties. Which is sad! I have loved the thirties - not the beginning bits because some crappy things happened then - but the last five years have been rather good. Especially the last year.In fact, this has been a pretty momentous year all round. This time in 2008, I subbed my first ms to Mills and Boon following recieving a compliment slip after the Instant Seduction Contest. I was also feeling annoyed with my library job and wondering if it was at all possible to have a decent career while having a young family. Even working 30 hours a week put huge stresses on our family - my husband has a fairly demanding job and what with me trying to carve out my own career, it was just hell on wheels. And so that's when I thought, dammit, writing has been my dream since I was 12 years old. It's all I've ever wanted to do. So why not take the leap - quit a job that was only frustrating me and write full time. It took me months to do this because giving up a career I'd spent 10 years in wasn't easy. Neither was being dependent on income from my husband. But honestly, it was the best thing I ever did. Not only did it take away the stress involved with managing school hours and school holidays, but it meant I could do what I've wanted to for years. I'm very lucky and my husband is a small god for making it possible.
I also want to thank you all for being such great friends. If I'd never made that leap, I would never have met such a wonderful lot of people. Even though I've never met any of you in real life, I feel like I know you, and that's something I never, ever expected from full-time writing.
Anyway, that's my deep and philosophical thoughts for the day. Tonight we're going out for dinner and in order to NTAI, I am being a complete computer geek and playing the new computer game I've just bought. No writing will be done.
Next year it's going to be the big four oh and I am planning big things. Until then, happy birthday to all you other Geminis out there and let's hope this year is the best ever!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
News - Revisions R Us!
I had an email from Anna today! No, not a sale but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be asked to do a second round of revisions!! Why am I not sure? Well, the email was kind of an apology because she mistakenly sent me my ms when it should have gone to a colleague she was wanting a second opinion from. A second opinion so she could send me some revisions! At least, she mentioned that but then the rest of the email talked about 'feedback'. Do you think 'feedback' is revisions? Or am I being an idiot and over-analysing??
Oh well, I'll find out next week because apparently I'll get my feedback by Tuesday. Argh!!
Oh well, I'll find out next week because apparently I'll get my feedback by Tuesday. Argh!!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Desperately Seeking a Title
I need a title. My Feel the Heat entry has been completely and utterly rewritten and now needs to be called something. Kate'n'Alex sounds like the title of a sitcom and although I could stick with Chasing Kate - which was the title I used for FTH - I'm not sure if it fits with the story anymore.
To show you how useless I am with titles, here is a list I came up with:
a) Chasing Kate - Again
b) The Millionaire Property Developer's Secret Bulldozer
c) The Hippy and the Property Developer Have a Weekend of Hot Sex and Live HEA
d) For the Love of Gardening (cos there is gardening in it)
Hmmm, somehow I don't think I'll be using any of the above (though I do have a hankering for the secret bulldozer). ;-)
Anyway, here's where you guys come in. Can you help me think of a title? To get you thinking, here's a quick blurb I wrote about it:
It's lust at first site when Kate meets Alex. Pity he's arrogant, rude, and worse, about to buy her much loved house with the sole purpose of knocking it down. But then he offers her way out of her money woes - he'll buy her house and let her live there, no demolishing required. For a price: one weekend with her.
Alex wants Kate like he's never wanted anything in his life. She's passionate and challenging, the perfect combination. But he's not a settle-down type of guy and so there's only one way for him to get what he wants: he'll have her for one weekend and one weekend only. However he'll soon find that one weekend with Kate isn't enough. Not nearly enough...
Okay, my blurb probably sucks (I hate writing 'em) so the other things you need to know are that secret babies, brides, virgins and/or billionaires do not feature anywhere in the story. A commune, a nice vegetable garden, an island hideaway and an old Mini do.
Anyone got any good ideas??
To show you how useless I am with titles, here is a list I came up with:
a) Chasing Kate - Again
b) The Millionaire Property Developer's Secret Bulldozer
c) The Hippy and the Property Developer Have a Weekend of Hot Sex and Live HEA
d) For the Love of Gardening (cos there is gardening in it)
Hmmm, somehow I don't think I'll be using any of the above (though I do have a hankering for the secret bulldozer). ;-)
Anyway, here's where you guys come in. Can you help me think of a title? To get you thinking, here's a quick blurb I wrote about it:
It's lust at first site when Kate meets Alex. Pity he's arrogant, rude, and worse, about to buy her much loved house with the sole purpose of knocking it down. But then he offers her way out of her money woes - he'll buy her house and let her live there, no demolishing required. For a price: one weekend with her.
Alex wants Kate like he's never wanted anything in his life. She's passionate and challenging, the perfect combination. But he's not a settle-down type of guy and so there's only one way for him to get what he wants: he'll have her for one weekend and one weekend only. However he'll soon find that one weekend with Kate isn't enough. Not nearly enough...
Okay, my blurb probably sucks (I hate writing 'em) so the other things you need to know are that secret babies, brides, virgins and/or billionaires do not feature anywhere in the story. A commune, a nice vegetable garden, an island hideaway and an old Mini do.
Anyone got any good ideas??
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