Using Mythology in your Work Starts Today

Everything Old Is New Again – Using Mythology in Romance

May 16, 17, and 18 at Romance Divas


Featuring:

P.C. Cast

Robin D. Owens

Gena Showalter

Lori Handeland

Alyssa Day


Want to know how to use mythology, culture, fairy tales, or folklore in romance? Romance Divas is hosting a 3-day workshop with some of the hottest names in the genre. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.

I'll be there, may you enjoy whatever you're reading today.
Robin

Cut That Line, That Paragraph, That Page!

One of the reasons I got in trouble with my scenes is because I wanted to keep a fun little line/additional payoff of a joke regarding Alexa & Bastien.

Too bad. So sad.

I'm ready to do that professional technique of smooshing, and the paragraphs Must Go. Yes, there are lines and paragraphs and pages and scenes that I've absolutely loved but that had to go because they distracted the reader from the main story of the book. This is always a problem with Alexa, since she is an over-the-top character. I have to keep my eye on her (and her toys) every minute.

I spent some time yesterday and the day before mulling over the scenes -- was it really time for this particular event to happen? What if I backed off on it and did only a precursor? What about the follow up? What was coming next?

So once I knew I had to cut the line, the timeline got clearer for me. That can be a BIG clue. If you love a line and you're having a hard time writing around it, what happens if you take it out? Do things flow more smoothly? If so, the line, etc., doesn't belong in there.

AND I GUARANTEE THAT YOU **MUST** LEARN TO DITCH YOUR WRITING WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I think that one of the marks of an amateur writer is that "they'll never let anyone change their work." If you're wedded to your words, it's going to be hard to really work in this business.

So those are my tips for the day.
May you be pleased with your work today,
Robin

In The Morning

One of the pleasures of going to bed late is looking at the other side of the world when the sun is just up...love spring and summer when this works. ;)

May you have a sunny day.
Robin

Fritter -- Book Construction

I slept in a little late since I stayed up late, got my morning wordcount done at a reasonable time...then the day sorta fell apart. I ate and bathed and frittered away time until I HAD to get out some mailing, one contest entry and two books to folks who won them during that last Sunday chat. So off to the P.O. (in traffic and much waiting since they raised their rates today).

I'm doing the catsitting thing, so I try to coordinate times with when I'm going back and forth to the East side of town -- dinner with Mom and friend re: Housesitting (Fri), dinner with Mentor and to the performance (Sat)., last brunch with friends (Sun). And MONDAY, free sneak viewing of Prince Caspian.

I liked it, some sad deaths/sacrifices :(, lots of betrayal here and there and it's been a long time since I read the book so I can't comment on how true it was. The Aslan thing was a bit too much for me, probably because I know the Christian underpinnings. The theme of the film was having faith, and that's a pretty good theme, but there seemed to be an underlying subtext that if you DIDN'T have faith in a higher power you'd screw up, that people can't come up with good answers to their problems themselves, which I DON'T believe...guess I just figured out what bothered me about the movie.

Some excellent special effects, but there WAS a lot of fighting if you're thinking of taking younger children to it. Not a whole lot of blood and gore, in the battles, but quite a bit death, and not only of humans -- animals, mythic creatures (gryphons), trees...(death of trees count as body count for me).

So I didn't get the afternoon word count done and since I left a scene with a couple of holes in it, that bothered me. OTOH, it should pick up easily tomorrow when we're supposed to have more rain/snow/gray weather.

And speaking of battles, I've been thinking about Echoes in the Dark and the construction of it...as usual there will be a long set up. I'm going to do a very short middle (hopefully), then an end slightly shorter than the set up. Doesn't look like I'll be at 400 pages, or even 500, but I'm going to shoot for 550. I'm always very conscious of rushing an ending because I've been accused of that more than once.

May your pacing be right on today,
Robin

Bleh

Writing went slowly today, only got 3 pages done (again sewing my chapters together) before it was time for brunch. Could NOT miss this brunch as the restaurant we've hung at for many years is closing.

Then catsat and fell asleep for quite a while. Back home and messed around, email, etc.

About an hour ago I looked at my chapters and realized I'd screwed up, written two different things for the same time period, so now I have to untangle it. I really don't do this often, but it slowed me down. Did two pages that may or may not stand, and finished my wordcount.

Just a rather bleh day, though I think if I hadn't had the am interruption it might have been a good day.

However, wordcount WAS made, which is, of course, the bottom line.

Love to all,
Robin

Passion

Follow your heart.

Follow your heart and magic will come.

These are two of the little "blessings" I write when I sign my books.

Last night my mentor and I went to a Denver School of Fine Arts event, and the people on stage were incredible, especially the three drummers. You could see the passion for their music, MUSIC, on their faces and they were having a great time.

During the intermission, I turned to my mentor and said, "They're following their passion and so are we. We might not be making much money, but we're doing what we want, and that's important."

There was a time, right before I seriously started writing, that I was doing well enough in the day job, nothing was going wrong, but I really didn't care if I lived one day to the next. (Ok, it might have been after I'd been dumped, which was the inciting event for me to take a course from mentor and become a writer).

So following your heart, embracing your passion, is important. And maybe you won't make a lot of money, but your inner soul will be satisfied.

That said, Don't Quit Your Day Job.

May today be sunny and full of music and passion for you.
Robin

Using Mythology In Your Work

Everything Old Is New Again – Using Mythology in Romance

May 16, 17, and 18 at Romance Divas


Featuring:

P.C. Cast

Robin D. Owens

Gena Showalter

Lori Handeland

Alyssa Day


Want to know how to use mythology, culture, fairy tales, or folklore in romance? Romance Divas is hosting a 3-day workshop with some of the hottest names in the genre. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.

I'll be there, may you enjoy whatever you're reading today.
Robin

Computer Blues

It was one of those days. I did some wordcount in the morning on the laptop, then took a break and went up to this desktop and found out my email wasn't working. I could get it, but I couldn't send it.

Messed around with the #$#@$#(*&%(#&$@*& thing all day long, removed programs, reset the computer to last December (best backup). Finally contacted my server and they said that since I'd gotten some spam they reset the socket the mail was coming from (like a day doesn't go by that I don't get spam?). They don't bother to notify in these cases. (????) During the chat, the person gave me three links that didn't work and finally had to type out step by step instructions. Just got off that chat.

So all's well that end's well, but you know how you feel when you flounder around trying to figure out what went strange between yesterday and today? I swear, it's like magic spells where you have to hold your mouth JUST RIGHT.

And I always keep thinking that the next thing I'll try will fix it...

Anyway it's done, and since an email was in my outbox that I thought was snotty (responding to spam saying that my PO Box was prime realty for refinancing), I deleted it before it went.

I'm tired. I have Amanda Quick's new book and may finish it before I turn in, but I have an RMFW board meeting tomorrow am that I can walk to, but I DO want to get some writing in...

Anyway, may all your computers be perfectly behaved today.
Robin

Four Hour Chapter

I've been slogging through this inserting thread. Actually I've SEARCHED and FOUND the scenes, modified drastically, cut and spread out, gone back and changed other scenes to correspond with the new scene, over the last week. It's been a tortuous process, but I think it's best for the story. I still have to drop in bits here and there, but I wanted to make more progress today, which I did.

It's rare for a chapter to take four hours to write and rewrite. Most of my chapters are in pretty good shape when I write them, then they get polished up as I go back and forth. So spending four whole hours on ONE chapter is enough to make me crazy. OTOH, I have inserted a couple of humorous bits that I think will really please people...it made my mentor laugh out loud while she was struggling with a publishing dilemma.

So may you laugh today.
Robin

Writerspace Chat 9PM EDT, and writing Magic

COME TO THE CHAT BY BERKLEY AUTHORS TONIGHT!

I'd just gotten my morning wordcount done when my Mom called. I'm meeting her for Mother's Day tomorrow night and I'll be housesitting again for her friend in a couple of weeks (but I don't have to stay overnight this time). Catsitting for MY friend starting tomorrow.

Anyway, yesterday wasn't too good. I worked on a scene then decided it shouldn't be in the book so spent the afternoon fretting about it and reading The Hollow, by Nora Roberts. Had some strange publishing business that I had to deal with which I can't talk about (may never be able to talk about it, sorry) and some conversations with friends who got hit by the same inept copy editor and ended up sending their entire mss. back loaded with "stets" (leave it like it is) and changes.

Anyway that was yesterday. Feeling better about the work because I opened up the scene again, wanted to end it quick so I could archive it for the website, kept writing and it went somewhere I didn't know it would/could and I think it needs to stay in.

Writing Fantasy:
In my own books, both series, I try to show you how Flair or Power works, how MAGIC works. This is a given for me. Here you see the heroine practicing her magic, and the hero doing his, and, btw, here is some more info about the planet. Sometimes it feels slow to write, but I really think that readers need to see that my h/h are competent people. And if I'm depending on these powers in some crises, climax in the end, the readers need to see it before to believe it. So though it may slow down the books, this set up is ALWAYS there.

In The Hollow, by Nora Roberts, I wanted more. More use of the heroine's powers, and seeing her acceptance of them more, so I was left slightly dissatisfied. That's me as a reader, so that may be, again, why I personally spend more time on the magic. I always worry if it is slowing my plot down.

BTW, if you aren't familiar with my site, I think there's an additional scene from Heart Thief that I cut showing a courtroom (JudgementGrove) case that Ailim adjudicates that didn't need to be in the book.

I've been hearing from readers regarding the website update and the contest for the ARC of Heart Fate, and it's been very gratifying. Thank you.

May you have a lovely day.
Robin

I'm Revved!

For Protector of the Flight.

Enjoy all good things that come your way.
Robin

Philosophy of Writing and Life

On that chat Sunday, after the formal chat was done, we talked about philosophy. There were a couple of brand new writers and one of them had the idea (don't know where it came from) was that writing was to enlighten readers. That if one wrote to please readers it was pandering to them.

So. I said I, like most genre writers, took a more practical view.

Digressing, everyone wants to make the world a better place, and writers are no different. But when you write popular fiction, and write for a paycheck, then you need rationalization and justification.

I write to entertain, and there's nothing BAD or WRONG about that. I'm pleased if I can take people away for their mundane cares (heaven knows during all my plumbing problems I LOVE being able to sink into another world, and it helps). That's enough for me.

Yes, I've gotten some email (which I won't share because it's private to the people and I think self-aggrandizing for me) that makes me very, very proud.

But bottom-line, I see my job as entertaining...the same as any other entertainer or sports figure. That's enough.

So I told this person that, and that also themes WILL creep into your work. Since I'd had a rum and coke I was on a roll...HeartMate is about gangs. Heart Thief is about society's outcasts and redemption. Heart Duel is about arrogance, selfishness, blindness and war. Heart Choice is about loving children because they are lovable and not simply because they are your own blood, about tradition. Heart Quest is about making other people's choices for them for their own good... I think all of these themes, outer stories, topics, may shed a different slant of light on a problem someone else is struggling with. Heaven also knows that some of my beliefs and problem solving has come from books.

This new writer was thrilled at the thought that s/he didn't have to "enlighten" readers. That s/he could trust him/herself to write what s/he wanted and themes would appear. That entertaining can be a good calling.

May you feel validated today,
Robin

Sceduled Posting

Blogger now has scheduled posting which may change my blog in a couple of ways.

First, I won't be tied to having to post it daily since I can schedule in advance. You may be subjected to less whines, but may lose more immediacy of my life...which can be good or bad.

I may actually talk more about writing and publishing, though I've been trying to do that a little more, too.

Announcements, like my CHAT ON WRITERSPACE MAY 8, 2008 9PM EDT (see link above) may actually be timely.

I'm thinking of posting pre-scheduled blogs at about 5AM so it shows up better daily.

Sometimes I've thought of several blogs, saved them, then cut and pasted them at posting time, which was a pain. So I am very much in favor of this option.

Hoping you'll all enjoy the slightly new slant,
Robin

World Map - Celta

Here it is, the full map of the planet Celta.



May you enjoy any world you find yourself in today.
Robin

Chat 7PM EDT, Me, Solo

Come one, come all. I'll be giving away a book or books from my backlist.

Love to see you there!
Robin

May Website Update - ARC of Heart Fate Contest, Celta World Map

All right, the wonderful Rae Monet took pity on me and updated my website very quickly when I sent the info to her today, including the interactive intro page where we swapped out the cover for Keepers of the Flame to Heart Fate.

Also new:
As usual, the Free Your Artist Page with motivational quote, creativity exercise, fun links like monthly ecards and divination and affirmation. Actually there are two affirmations as I left a previous one on. This is always my most time consuming page, but I've actually used it to jump start myself sometimes by going through the Artist Archives....

CONTEST: An ARC of Heart Fate (and this time I might even fix the choreography problem that went out in the two I gave away at Romantic Times).

READS: An excerpt of ECHOES OF THE DARK. This is from Chapter 3, I can only hope the setup and the scene makes sense. If it doesn't I may try for something else, but I'm experimenting with other chapters than 1 or 2.

WORLDS: Check CELTA, which has an actual world map (talked about here before), of Celta.

That should be it.
Smooches, and may you enjoy the site as much as I do.
Robin

Ironman -- Setups & Payoffs

Just back from going out with friends to see Ironman. Really liked it (ok, I closed my eyes during several scenes, esp. the torture ones), but liked the relationships -- with friends, assistant/"girlfriend", and machines.

Very good movie to look for set-ups and pay-offs. Things that happen that later play into the story.

I have a friend who keeps a list of her setups to make sure she pays them off, and, I think I said I've done a set up from Guardian of Honor that I'm paying off in Echoes in the Dark (SEE I CAN REMEMBER THE NEW TITLE). Most of these I keep in my head, but my brain is not as sharp as it was...actually my Mom has always been the sharpest tack in the family box, and as she often tells me she is only HALF related to me.

Much blowing up of things, excellent performances by Downey and Paltrow, minimal philosophy, would have liked a touch more theme. So, picked up and driven to the large screen, line waited in, junk food munched, movie watched, out to dinner afterwards and driven home. Good time was had by all.

May you enjoy good company today.
Robin