Trust Me, Baby

As a reader there are some authors I will always trust and always read. As far as I'm concerned, this is a treasure, even if the back cover copy shows that the plot/storyline is not one I would normally read.

As an author, I can only aspire to being that for my readers.

So, reflect on the authors you enjoy, and authors, think of your compact with your readers. This doesn't mean you don't grow and stretch, but know when and how to take chances.

May you enjoy your reading and writing today,
Robin

Determination

The wonderful thing about the game of life is that winning and losing are only temporary...unless you quit. -- Fred Mills

Reminding you all that determination plays a big part in being a writer, and in any other artistic endeavor. You have to keep going.

Since National Novel Writing Month is over, I want to congratulate those who participated and celebrate their efforts.

Like I said in my HeartMate Dedication:
To all struggling writers, Never Quit.

Enjoy all your own, unique creativity today, whatever it is.
Robin

Changing Titles and Character Names

I've had to change my titles often, most notably Singer for a World became Echoes in the Dark. This is mostly due to the marketing departments of my publishers or my editors' consideration of marketing.

In any event, the book I've been working on, Out of Balance, will no longer be called that, since it doesn't strongly imply a genre. The alternate title for that story, A Dwarf At The Door, is too fantasy. So we are running through titles and any feedback will be heartily welcomed. "Lightfolk" will not be the series title.

Since the urban-fantasy-paranormal books will be linked by houses in an magical cul-de-sac or enclave, I (and critique buddies) am working from that. Enchantment Way, Enchantment Enclave, 4 Mystic Way, 124 Mystical Place, whatever.

I think I'll be getting/sending ideas today.

I've gotten used to changing titles, it's usually a battle not worth fighting because you can't win.

Changing a character's name is much harder. Brandy, in Sorceress of Faith, became Marian, and it took me most of the book before I thought of her as Marian.

So, advice, don't fall in love with your title...and when I have a new one, I may go back and insert it in all the blogs where I put Out of Balance.

May you enjoy whatever title you have, or are reading, today.
Robin

P.S.

On the personal front, I won NaNoWriMo with great effort in the last couple of weeks, I don't recommend that. Also the new cat seems to be settling in, but cried all last night from 3 am on since, huge cat fight night before last at 3:30 am. It's preferred spot is in the crawlspace where I can't reach it under the corner of the front porch. Since it's snowy today, and the dirt crawlspace is nasty, I am concerned, but I can't pick it up. I've been trying to lead him to the warmer laundry room-back porch-pantry, but that hasn't worked yet.

This has been a lot more stressful on me than I'd anticipated. Dingo doesn't like him and he's as big as Dingo.

Chapt 1: Single Character On Stage

Starting with a Single Character on Stage can be a concern with my critique group. I'm not sure how this "rule" evolved, since I asked our most technical and analytical person a while back.

I am not convinced that starting with a Single Character On Stage is a bad thing. HeartMate started that way, Heart Change, most the Summoning books, and Echoes in Dark (literally, Jikata on stage).

I think it depends on how long you go and what other hooks you might have. In HeartMate, Zanth walks on stage fairly quickly, and in Heart Change, Vinni shows up rather dramatically.

There can be problems if most of the scene is backstory, or the set up goes on too long.

As for me, if books open with dialogue, I tend to get confused -- who is the real protagonist and why should I care about them?

Of course Mentor usually opens with action, prefers that, and chase or explosions. ;), though, now that I think about it, she opened with a single character (victim viewpoint) in what she brought to cririque...though since I didn't notice, it obviously didn't go on too long.

And in critique, it is unlikely that I will be the one having a problem with this. So if you have single character online, check to see when someone else arrives...

May you enjoy all the techniques of your craft today.
Robin

Ordeals -- Ready? -- Vogler

I usually write to the "Writer's Journey" outline that was popularized by Christopher Vogler in the book of the same name and corresponds to Jospeh Campbell's studies of The Hero With A Thousand Faces and I'm up to the Ordeal.

I thought of it early yesterday morning, but I'm not quite ready to write it. I think because it should be a powerful scene and I want it right...though the most powerful scene I ever wrote, in Heart Choice, I just went with the flow.

But this one, I think I want my subconscious working on for a while, so I'll let it mull, and write it tomorrow. Critique is today.

Though I might also be hesitating because I know it will be wrenching if I do it right.

May you enjoy your creative process today.
Robin

Story: # Points of View

The story determines points of view, how many characters you will tell it from. I think the genre also determines this. For instance, fantasy readers are more likely to accept more points of view, as well as more characters. For me, my romances have had TWO and TWO ONLY points of view, the hero and the heroine.

My five book fantasy series (Summoning) has had, I think, up to five points of view, hero/heroine and secondary characters. I even started out with a secondary character's point of view in the first book, Guardian of Honor -- to show you the set up on Lladrana. Also, there came a time in the book, where I wanted to foreshadow something and that couldn't be done in the hero's or heroine's point of view (they weren't speaking to each other). So I used the hero's brother, Luthan.

In the last two books of the Summoning series, Keepers of the Flame and Echoes in the Dark, I was primarily telling the story of the two couples. I'd learned from experience that the moment I put Alexa (heroine of Guardian of Honor) on stage she tended to take over, so she did NOT get a point of view.

I'm bringing this up because in the new Luna book (Lightfolk series) that I'm writing, in all the words I've done (38K), it's been in the heroine's point of view. I haven't actually sat down to analyze this -- and I DID do a hero's interview sheet in first person -- but I think I want to keep the hero's motivations a little murky.

So, there is only ONE point of view in this book. This may change after I move into it more, but currently it feels right.

May you enjoy your own point of view today.
Robin

Thank YOU

I am very thankful for my family, my friends, my cat Dingo, and the people who enjoy my work and make my writing career possible. May blessings fall on all of them for the rest of their lives.

Happy Thanksgiving, and may it be a joyful day for you.
Robin

Of Cats

Most of you know that I write about cats. At one time I had a total of 6 (indoor/outdoor). Now I have one.

I don't often talk about the cats here or on my website, because I write of them and in the books, they are still living (except Boris in Road to Adventure who has his crown and his temple and the road and his wings...). I like people to think of the cats as alive.

But I am thinking of adopting another. Dingo (Beadle in Heart Change) is so mellow that I don't believe he will have a problem.

And (whispering) I consulted an animal communicator to make sure Dingo would be all right with this. I'm not above paying for a little peace of mind, even if it might be a fantasy.

Still, this is a big step, adding a new member to the household. I'm going to see him on Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you have a day and evening of possibilities.
Robin

Luna, Lightfolk 1

Got a note that Luna needed art info for Lightfolk #1. I'm calling it Out of Balance (or A Dwarf At the Door). This is my mock up I'll be using for the "cover" on NaNoWriMo.



Jenni is an "elemental balancer" which means she balances magic...and sees them as sheets/flames...earth, air, wind, fire, water.

And I'm beat, especially since I've worked on this all evening.
May you enjoy different creativities today.
Robin

Back from Retreat and Signing!

The flying itself was tough, but I am home and pretending the cars going by on the street is the thunder of surf...but during the long quiet times it is REALLY quiet.

I fell while climbing up a dune and got sand in the camera...so not many pics this year.

Signing today!

November 22nd, 2009, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Signing with Deb Stover at Broadway Book Mall/Who Else Books
BroadwayBookMall.com
Broadway Book Mall
200 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80209

Please drop by. I should be reading a bit, too....

May you have a lovely day and enjoy wherever you are.
Robin

Retreat / WiFi Missing....

Yes, I know I haven't posted anything lately. The flight was a little delayed but all in all went well (ok, I missed lunch). Sat-Monday I didn't write, just listened to the surf and read and talked.

Now, of course, I am WAY behind on my Nanowrimo word count so I need to write a lot the next 12 days. So far I've adopted a new schedule...like two hours on, a long break, 2 more hours, etc. It's been working better than 4-6 hours in the chair in the morning.

So that's it. I'll try and get back here tomorrow night (writing in the evenings now, too). I'll be back in Denver on Saturday and SIGNING AT BROADWAY BOOK MALL on Sunday.

May you enjoy your locale....
Robin

Off to Retreat!

Yes, it's my third annual retreat in South Carolina! This time I am doing Hermit Week 2. I am up early and packed and have new batteries and memory card for the camera, flash drives, and determination to write!

There will be the tail end of Ida, some pretty days and some cooler ones, but here it is snowing.

Mom or bro (or myself driving Mom's car) is taking me to the airport and I will be back next Saturday evening and SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, I HAVE A SIGNING AT BROADWAY BOOK MALL.

I'll be meeting mostly new people for Hermit Week 2, so that will be interesting. I need to write, and I think I need the break of walking on the beach. I WILL (internet willing) be posting to the blog when I am away. Probably beach photos as usual.

May you enjoy your weekend and week, whatever you are doing, your free time and creativity!
Robin

What a Brand New Writer Needs

The most important thing that a brand new writer needs is FEEDBACK. They need to be affirmed that they know writing techniques or be told how to learn them.

So I always recommend a writing organization (Romance Writers of America if you are writing romance) for in-person critique groups. There are online critique groups, too, but I don't know these, and make sure they don't charge per critique. There could be fees to keep the website going, or membership fees (reasonable, under 100/year).

Or enter contests with good feedback, such as (for multi genre), Pikes Peak Writers, Southwest Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

May you find what you need today,
Robin

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way

I am a big believer in writing no matter what, but the signing I went to happened to coincide with the Air Force - Army game (can we say TRAFFIC!) and took me all day. I've continued to mess with the insurance re: my minor accident, I had some family stuff, and I went down to put some summer fans away in the basement and found my hot water heater leaking yesterday am....

So I went to Lowe's and was about to pay $700 for a heater and install when they said they wouldn't install because there is no drain in the basement floor. The house is coming up on 100 years old, so, like, OF COURSE no drain.

So I haven't written. I COULD have, there is something to be said for just getting words down on the page, words, after all, can be revised, a blank page can't.

I allowed myself to be distracted. Today will be better. I have a charity lunch (I was auctioned off), and tomorrow I take the car in, but...I've been thinking about the book and that is always a very good sign.

BTW, bro came over, I led him to the basement and there was no wetness under the hot water heater. SIGNS of leakage but nothing immediate that I need to take care of before I leave for South Carolina on Saturday. Huge relief.

I WILL write this afternoon.

May you be very pleased with the world today,
Robin

Joy of Writing! Why Do You Write? Process vs. Results

I've had this discussion many times over the years and it's something I need to remind myself when I have deadlines. I love to write (ok, I especially love to write when it's just complete fun). Yesterday, at the awesome signing at Beth Anne's Book Corner, I was talking to a woman who wrote to please herself.

Since I've joined RMFW and my critique group(s), the point of the work is WORK, to do something publishable and publish it. Sometimes the joy that started you writing is lost. I heard from one of my critique buddies that she seems to have given up writing...and I think it's because she SHOULD be published by now, and has that as a goal, we've set ourselves. So maybe next group we will look at that.

I wrote a little something a couple of months back for pure joy (ok, maybe I'll sell it sometime), but I needed to remind myself that the book I'm writing on now I wrote for pure joy, too, even though I've sold it.

It can be freeing, to think of writing for fun instead of for results...though this is NaNoWriMo month and wordcount matters... ;)

May you experience joy in your creativity today.
Robin

Thank You All

Thanks to all of you who have purchased Heart Change and have let me know that you enjoyed it and/or the books.

I deeply appreciate this, especially when my writing days are a little rocky.

So may you have a sweet, unexpected pleasure today.
Robin

Signing Saturday -- Colorado Springs

All right, I'm still in promo mode for Heart Change (it won't last long), and will be doing TWO signings. One in Colorado Springs with Deb Stover this Saturday (apparently with the crunched car):

November 7, 1pm - 3pm
Signing with Deb Stover at Beth Anne's Book Corner,
http://www.bethannesbookcorner.com
1532 North Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
To pre-order an autographed copy by mail
or call (719) 471-7545

and one on the 22nd when I get back from South Carolina (I will remind you).

November 22nd, 2009, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Signing with Deb Stover at Who Else Books
http://who_else.home.att.net/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html
Broadway Book Mall
200 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80209

May you enjoy all your jaunts today!
robin

New READ on READS Page, Nov Website Up

It's up and I have "new" next to the things I have updated. A new page in Worlds for Heart Change with D'Marigold Residence, the little Samhain piece I have on Celta under Worlds. An excerpt from Chapter 3 of Heart Change.

Contest is for a Calcite Egg.

May you enjoy wherever you go on the web today.
Robin

HEART CHANGE RELEASE TODAY!

Ok, thought I HAVE heard from a few of you, Heart Change is officially released today (though I doubt it will make any famous 'lists').

I've been sending ECards to a couple of my groups, three different ones, tailored to the group, here's the one for Romance.



May you enjoy the day.
Robin

Revising vs. Restarting and Holding File

No one likes to throw your work out, but sometimes you get so bogged down in ideas that if you try to revise and rework and cut and paste old with new work, it stops you. At least it does me.

Since I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year, I am already a bit behind (oh and was rear-ended yesterday, minor, but I'm going to have to deal with that this week).

And so Chapter 2 and 3 are good but not working, and if I try to revise I will STILL be stuck, I've decided to throw them out. Again.

I do have a Holding file for old chapters, all old work, but I really rarely look at it. But it's a comfort for me.

So, back to work! May you enjoy what you are doing today.
Robin

Internals, NanoWriMo Start

Yes, I am actually up at 2:30 (now 1:30 am). I went to a NaNoWriMo kickoff at about 9:30 and just got home.

Many of the people there made their daily wordcount (1667), and much more in the write in (I think the high was about 3400). I, of course, was distracted because I need to rework (again) chapter 2 of Out of Balance. Critique group was a little rough, and I'm not sure how to fix. I should also have revised 3 and 4, but that time is not new wordage. So I jumped into 5 and, of course, I went straight to internals. 1047 of internals. I have finally realized that my default mode is internals. Mainly because it lets me get the character down. But I want this book to be shorter...

I'm pretty sure my mentor's default writing is a car chase...some people do dialogue...and then write more and call it "layering." I am not really good at rushing a rough draft out and going back and revising. I tend to revise as I go along, work I did the previous day or whatever.

So I think I'm going to take a sticky and put it up on my computers that says "action," or even "dialogue" would be a better option than internals. When I first began writing there were a lot more internals that there is today, so I am behind the curve in catching up to popular fiction. A little can go a long way.

Next time, I'll just write some sort of action scene or dialogue.

Meanwhile, there is another write in at 3pm straight across the highway from me, so I think I'll go, too. I'll definitely make my wordage by then, and maybe more. Or earlier. Or something.

In any event, just sit down and write (we started at midnight), and see what is your default mode. Always good to know.

May you enjoy your reading or writing today.
Robin

Critique

Critique group is today and I only have six pages of Out of Balance because I've been trashing/rearranging chapter 2. When I revised the synopsis of the proposal Timeshifter --> Out of Balance, I didn't revise the pages. Chapter 1 only had a few tweakings, but chapter two needs work.

This will be the first time in years that I don't have a full 10 pages (or more).

What I really wanted to talk about was critiquing. I've been thinking about a friend's story that I read a couple of months ago and wondering what changes she made. I'd like to know, though I'll read the book when it comes out.

I find critiquing on the computer harder than on hard copy. I have to mess with fonts and colors and stuff. Also it's hard on my eyes, and I'm not sure I catch everything that I should.

Sometimes I get so tired of looking at the computer that the actual story doesn't make much sense. So I usually leave the critique and think of it (or let it simmer) for a while.

I don't believe I'm the only writer who does this, especially if something bothers me about a story that I can't quite pinpoint. So I will put in hours on a critique...

Today we do it off the cuff, but if I think of something later, I will send them an email or call.

Writers care about each other.

May you enjoy your social time today.
Robin

Retreat Pics...

May you enjoy your landscapes today.
Robin

Housebound

There's a lot of snow here in Denver, and I'm currently ok with staying inside. In fact, something a writer needs to worry about a bit is being a hermit. It's all well and good to communicate by email and chats and tweets, but face time with other people is very important.

Study faces and expressions. Listen to tones of voices. Smell other places: coffee? wet wool? seaweed? Taste the rain or snow or the salt and humidity in the air. Feel the crunch of leaves or crusted snow or sand under your feet.

Being a hermit can limit you to your own thoughts and environment, and we all need to fill the well...with people as much as all the other sensory input.

May you enjoy interacting today.
Robin

Samhain on Celta -- Prize

I'm blogging at the Knight Agency today (and staying warm inside during a snowstorm that has lasted two days and dumped about a foot of snow on Denver).

There IS a prize of your choice of a book from my backlist at the above link.

Enjoy!

And may you enjoy virtual visits today!
Robin

Office Efficiency -- Research Naming Materials

I have to talk about this today since my office is a wreak. It's definitely time to reorganize it, most particularly so I have my research books at hand and my software.

Lately I've had to search for the two "books" I've used for naming on Celta, Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and The Herbal Tarot. Some of my books are downstairs on the Dining Room table where the laptop usually sits, but it's coming winter.

My office is small, about 12 x 12 and has books on most of the walls. My desktop is big and the sun comes through the window all winter, so I should be up here writing instead of downstairs in the chill dining room. But books and papers are everywhere and it's gotten out of hand.

So cleaning the office a bit by bit is top priority (no, I'm not avoiding the Luna book, not at all). I'm giving myself a half hour a day so that it isn't ovewhelming but the work will get done.

Check out YOUR office. Are you avoiding it? Why?

Take care,
Robin

Readings

I have a reading today and I waffled back and forth what to read. My latest book came out in January and is actually Echoes in the Dark, but it is the last book of a very connected five book series. I considered Guardian of Honor because it was the first of the series.

Heart Fate has been out over a year.

Heart Change isn't due for a couple of weeks, but I worry that folks will forget the name, and it's trade paperback and the last mass market out that I have is actually Heart Dance.

Most of my books can be found in the Dealers' Room for immediate purchase.

Finally I settled on Heart Change. It's rare for only two characters to be in a scene in that book -- Cratag and Signet making love, of course, but otherwise....

But I plucked out a couple of scenes there anyway. One is during Avellana's first Passage, that Signet shares. Then the morning after the event. Then later in the book where Cratag looses control (not in bed, in the sparring salon).

I've printed them out, read them, kept track of the time...but I think I'll hunt up a copy of Guardian of Honor anyway...not that I can find my own reading copy...again...but I have my reading copy of Keepers of the Flame...

May you be decisive today.
Robin

Electronic Submission

I submitted Heart Journey electronically yesterday. There are some things I hate about electronic work -- the copy editing in Word for instance -- but not printing the whole dam book (108211K in Word, 474 pages) TWICE as per contract, not going out in the snow and mailing it, is great. Yes, that was a very long run on sentence. Yes I should break it up. No, I'm not going to.

This morning I've been working on my annual flier for Mile Hi Con, which I will probably put up tomorrow.

I HAVE gotten one copy of the book, but not my author copies yet, though, as we all know, they are shipping and some have been sold. I'll be giving that away today for a charity auction, though I did scan it.

It IS browner/tanner and I'm concerned my name fades a little into the background, but it is still a beautiful cover.



May you enjoy whatever you do today.
Robin

Pickier than most Readers...

That's what my mentor said (yes, I am weaving the last of the threads through and will hopefully finish today) when she returned Heart Journey to me. As usual, she said, I COULD turn Heart Journey in the way I'd written it in rough draft (or the draft I gave her), but she picked at every little dam thing.

So it got a bit frustrating at times, but now that I'm definitely on the downward slope -- I only have the climax to rearrange and I wrote stuff for that yesterday -- I am pleased with the book. It looks like it will be 108K+ but Heart Change was 113K+ so all is good. My editor might not likely cut the book.

I DID lift a few large scenes (which readers will see on my website), but some scenes were cut, like taking a character out here...so that's more promblematic putting on my site.

In any event, be pleased with yourself today.
Robin

Villain's Point Of View

Unlike a VICTIM'S Point of View, which I find rarely adds to a book, I think villains' point of view can be very interesting.

It is also a technique to add to suspense and vary pacing -- the reader knows the villain has PLANS even as the protagonists continue on their way.

Though I have never actually written a villain's point of view, I like reading them.

A short blog today, and when the brain is less foggy from revisions, I hope to add more on this topic.

May you enjoy all the characters you meet today--and meet no villains beyond pages or film...
Robin

Villains -- Writers' Brains

I don't consider myself a great villain maker. Many of them are over the top evil...like the Dark in the Lladrana series or T'Elder in Heart Thief. Usually the Heart books do have a little mystery/suspense, but I always expect the reader to guess who it is. When people DON'T guess who the villain is I'm surprised and flattered.

My mentor is primarily a romantic mystery writer, so plot and mystery comes first. She was unhappy with Heart Journey because the villain didn't really show up until the end -- in a mystery, the villain should definitely be introduced early in the book with other suspects.

Now, I have two henchmen who are doing a lot of theft/vandalism, but the villain stayed off the page.

I thought a lot about this change and figured out how to fix it...the wonderful thing about writers' brains is that usually we CAN fix something if we believe it needs to be done, no matter how weird it can be. But it takes time. If I was on a hideous deadline that wouldn't let me think about something for a week, I might have left it as it was.

I considered many things, characters I'd thought of introducing but didn't...a cartographer rival of Del's for instance. I thought of how long the book was and how many pages I'd already cut. Finally the answer came to me. So yesterday I went back and dropped the guy in for as much as I've made the changes from mentor so far. I want at least one more mention or scene and I think I'll be good.

May you enjoy twisting your mind today.
Robin