Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day

Let us remember our fallen American warriors and those who still fight for our freedom.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Another Week Has Gone By

Another week has gone and I'm working hard at writing.

There are some weeks that are harder than others. Sometimes it's because the day job has stressed me out, or there are family things that need to get done. The last week has been like that, but each day I carved out some writing time.

Why? Because it's important to me. I want to be a full-time writer, some day. And in order to do that I have to writer. Which means I have to be disciplined about my writing.

I'm the first to admit, I'm not always disciplined about it, but I strive constantly to work at my writing, and to write.

Already this year I've accomplished a lot, but I have to remind myself not to push because then I start to lose my creative spark.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Spark Your Creativity

How do you spark your creativity?

There have been times in my life where I haven't felt like writing, I don't call it writers block, because it's not really a block. It's a time when I haven't felt creative, and when I think back to those times, I think about what I've done to become creative once again.

Most of the time I start reading, there's nothing like reading to help your mind get back to wanting to create your own characters and story.

Other times, I've given myself permission not to write. I let myself play on-line games, watch TV or a movie, or simply sit around and do nothing.

I need that break, I need to let my mind relax and settle down before that creative spark comes flying back demanding me to sit down at the computer and type.

I've also realized my creativity can be sparked by being excited about writing the next scene in my book or a character suddenly coming to life.

A few weeks ago, I was in this creative slump, I gave myself permission that I would only write one page a day. The minute I did that the pressure was off, and I wrote anywhere from one to fifteen pages in a day.

Anything can spark your creativity, it's learning to recognize it, and know when you need to let your creativity have a break.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Where Do Your Ideas Come From

As a writer I get this question a lot. And it's a hard one for me to answer because I get my ideas for my books from my characters.

I start developing my characters first, then I play what if and why game with myself and the characters.

For Example: IN PLAIN SIGHT, my Scarlet Rose book from The Wild Rose Press, I did this: What if a man and woman were trapped in an elevator?
And what if these two had been dancing around their attraction to each other for a while?
And what if they had sex in the stalled elevator?
What if the heroine had a stalker ex-fiance?
Why would he stalk her?
Why does the hero pursue her?
What if they work together in the same company?

That's all it took for me, the first scene blossomed from the what if a man and woman were trapped in an elevator. The other questions flowed and I started to write the opening of the book.

As you can see, the what if and the why play a big part in my ideas. It helps me determine the conflicts, the motivation and the characters for the book.

I've heard it say ideas can be found anywhere, but for me I find mine by creating my characters, then putting them in a situation that is going to do nothing but cause them both trouble.

Monday, May 3, 2010

The End of the Book

There is nothing more satisfying than finishing up a manuscript and typing the end.

Okay, I don't type the end anymore, but I know the book is finished. The characters are going to live happily-ever-after, in my mind and hopefully the readers as well.

All the events leading up to the end are critical. I have to make sure I've wrapped up all conflicts, even minor ones, if I've added a bit of suspense to the book that also needs to be wrapped up.

It's almost like wrapping a present for someone you know, you make sure the price tag is removed, you find the right box, put the gift in the box, find the perfect wrapping paper, and wrap the present. Add a bow.

That's how I feel at the end of the book. I've done everything possible to give the reader a satisfying romance along with sensual characters.

I want my readers to fall in love with my hero, and to understand where my heroine is coming from. They may or may not want to be my heroine, but they'll understand who she is and why she choose to be with the hero.

The end of the book is sometimes sad for me as well, as I'm saying good-bye to characters who have been with me on this journey.

But the end of the book is also exciting, because now I can polish and submit it to my publisher, but it also means I can me on to the next set of characters who are clamoring away in my head for their story to be told.