Playing in the Big Leagues

The best thing about writer's conferences is having the chance to get an "inside view" of the publishing industry. E-books have changed the way people read. Pure and simple. But the process remains essentially the same.

I met two awesome editors, both of who gave me some excellent advice/feedback. Thanks to Amanda Bergeron from Avon Books for encouraging me to send my work for consideration, and thanks to Liz Poteet from St. Martin's Press for reading a part of Cinda's story and offering her thoughts (and for inviting me to send along other projects).

I attended some extremely interesting sessions, one of which was an inside view to what happens to your "baby" once the editor/agent tells you they love it. The presenter explained all the hoops they have to jump through to get it from "I love it!" to the bookshelf through some very interesting stories.

Writers conferences are always worthwhile. I'm sure I've heard some of this information before, learned many of these subjects, but I always take something fresh away.

And I got to meet Mary Balogh, one of my favorite authors. No, I didn't gush, but I did tell her how much I enjoy her books, I did impose on her for this photo, and I did get her autograph when she sat down in the hotel lobby later with her Kindle to read.

And now, I have work to do on Cinda's story! I came away from this experience with a decent elevator pitch and a blurb that is workable (still needs a little fine tuning). And for that, I thank the wonderful ladies I met there.

Writers Conferences

This weekend is the Chicago Spring Fling Writer's Conference.  Am I excited? Ya, you betcha!

People will often ask why go to a writer's conference, and there are bunches of reasons. First, you get to meet some well-known authors, often people you've read and like. Second, you get to hang out with a bunch of people just like you! It's a good chance to compare notes, learn new things, get re-energized. Third, if you love to read (and most authors DO love to read), you have the opportunity to find new books - and usually you come home with a bunch of free books.

This year, in addition to all of these things, they are also setting up head shots for those of us who need a new photo to add to social networking or back covers or whatever. There is a yoga class bright and early Saturday morning to refresh the body and the spirit. And there is the opportunity to talk to industry insiders about how to get "in." Pitch sessions, where you can promote your writing to an agent or a publisher.

The very first time I went to a writer's conference, I was nervous and shy. Writers as a whole tend to be an introverted lot, and I'm no exception. So I lurked around my first day, tried to follow the advice to meet new people. And I did. I met some very nice people, but at the end of the day, I felt SOOOO out of my element. What was I doing there, pretending to be an author? But you know what? I stuck around for day two and they had some awesome workshops, one of which was "what makes you think you're an author?" (Talk about fortuitous!) It was a session on author psychology 101. Suddenly I felt included. I had a reason to be there and I was surrounded by hundreds of people just like me. What an insight.

I've learned a lot since that first conference. I've written four more books since then, and I've pitched a dozen different agents and publishers. I have the confidence to walk up to a stranger and ask them if they are interested in the genre I write. I have done book signings with Julia Quinn and Jennifer Cruisie and Simone Elkeles and Eloisa James. This year I'm doing one with Mary Balogh! If you're in the Chicago area, stop in! You can click on the link for a list of authors who will be at the book signing . . .Chicago Spring Fling Book Signing. It is hosted at the Marriott near the Sears Center.

Justified Antagonism?

Jumping back into my writing routine, although I have one more deadline at the day job to meet. I've made it to the end of Cinda's story (YAY!) although the last chapter is outlined, not written (does that sound like it should be coming from James Bond?). Anyway, as I'm revisiting the story line after mostly completing that first draft, I'm looking at where I have to fill in the blanks. Today's blog post is about characterization and humanizing your antagonist.

Bad guys are bad. But why are they bad? And what makes them so bad? Sometimes they are people who've lost their way after a run of bad luck. Sometimes a physical or mental disability pushes them the wrong direction. It's okay to hate the bad guy, but sometimes it helps to understand what makes him or her that way. Are they a driven personality? Downtrodden?

In Cinda's story, the antagonist wasn't always a bad person, although they displayed those tendencies. As I go back over my first draft to clean up the messy bits and make sure I've left the appropriate bread crumbs, I've had to pay more attention to said antagonist to show all sides of the personality. Does the antagonist have reason to be the "bad guy?" Is it a personality defect or are they pushed to the edge of sanity to get there?

Making all the characters in a novel "people" (rather than caricatures) adds dimension to writing. My antagonist is the one character I have to "fluff up" more as I go back for a second draft. But that's the way I write. I get the story down first, then I go back through to fill in the blanks, those parts that I see perfectly in my head that didn't make it to the page. While some authors have to go back through and cut out all the extra, I work opposite. There is definitely extra, overused words, filler words, etc., but I tend to be very spare on details the first time through.

So, without further ado, time to add those details.

Anon

Returning to Normal

I am so excited to be able to write again, I can't begin to tell you.

For those of you who ask, "how do you know you're a writer?" Today is one of those days I can tell you very enthusiastically that you "just know."

The past month I've had very few thoughts I could call my own. As they relate to the day job, they have been organized and clear and focused. Then the deadline ends and you feel like someone pulled the plug. Suddenly your brain goes blank and the simplest of things feels overcomplicated. Answers you know readily have traveled to a different planet. Grasping for a life preserver, I started over with Cinda's story, which has been waiting patiently for me, and discovered my creative side jumping up and down screaming "yay!"

"Yay." Not, "Oh gee, another job to do."

And the ideas are coming through fast and furious. Granted, the story has a direction and I left it at least 2/3 done, but the chapters still have to be written. Don't get me wrong, it is absolutely a job, work. The difference is in the way I feel about it.

The fatigue of the recently completed deadline lingers, but the excitement of doing something I love buoys me up. Something that brings so much joy, something I've worked hard to do well, something others have rewarded me for doing well (did I mention I won an award from Writer's Digest? Did I? Did you know I won an award from Writer's Digest?), this is something you "know" you were meant to do.

I'm looking forward to the Chicago Spring Fling Writer's Conference in a couple of weeks. If you're in the Chicago area, stop in on Saturday for the book signing. I'll be there, along with Mary Balogh (one of my faves! I'm so excited to meet her!), Simone Elkeles, Kristan Higgins, Joelle Charbonneau and more than I can name here (but if you want to know who else, you can visit this link for the full list -Spring Fling Book Signing). It starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26 at the Marriott by the Sears Center (Hoffman Estates).

Coming up for Air

There are times I question my sanity for working the type of day job I do. The stress is tremendous and even crippling at times. The satisfaction for a job well done is always rewarding. However, being inside a pressure cooker does mean that once they take the lid off you can have unpredictable results. Generally speaking, people come exploding out.

And so today I have a day of quiet. Decompression. There's one deadline left to go at the end of April before life returns to something close to normal again. But with the worst deadline in the rearview mirror, baby steps can be taken back toward resuming some of the other aspects of life that necessarily take a back seat.

Today is my designated day to recapture some semblance of sanity, and I spent part of it reading a book. I'm now officially a fan of Tessa Dare. Curled up on the sofa with a cat who demanded that I "sit" and rest in just that spot, I'm already feeling rejuvenated. Battle weary, but no longer explosive. I have a fresh desire to write and recruit new fans of my own. At the end of April I will be attending the Chicago Spring Fling Writer's Conference where I will meet and mingle with others just like me -- and I get to meet another of my favorite authors!

Spring has been a long time coming this year (in fact, it hasn't yet arrived) and yet the sun is coming out. With the worst of the day job behind me, I have a fresh perspective once again. The grass will turn green, the trees will bud, and I will finish Cinda's story!

Anon