What It Takes to be Published and Some Links You Might Like

 

Congratulations, Patty! You won a copy of BURNING SKY. Lori will be in touch with how to get it. ;-)

 



Nearly every time I say I'm a writer and that I'm nearing the end of a complete rough draft of my first novel, someone says, "Oh, that means we'll get to read it next year, won't we?"

Er...no. But I also know that when we read books like eating popcorn, we don't have an appreciation of what it takes behind the scenes to get the story into our hands. I know I didn't, but I do now. Here's the best explanation of what it takes that I've ever read. The author is Joanna Bourne, a RITA-winning historical romance writer who knows how to write well and has the ability to teach and explain the craft behind the words. Check out her recent post at her blog post, What to do when you've done what you do. [BTW, if you like historical romance, be sure to check out Jo's Spymaster Series. I promise you'll like them.]

So in answer to my friends' questions on when they can read FRIENDLY FIRE, it will be a while. ;-)

Here's another great post for writers who are having trouble taking the oft-said advice to "Write everyday."  This is from SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) at Red Room--There Are Only Two Things to do Every Day. Susan's excellent advice is for all writers, but especially for those who have gotten themselves tied into knots with unrealistic expectations. [Thanks, Cody, for that lovely link.]

And now for the last bit of wisdom I have to share today...In the last couple of years there has been a concerted effort by bloggers to steer away from the copyrighted images that flood the internet. This is from Lara Lancombe [whose debut book, DEADLY CONTACT comes out on November 1] who suggests:

After you run a search on Google images, click the wheel icon on the right of the page.  Then click 'Advanced Search.'  Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you will find 'usage rights' as the last option under 'Narrow your results by.'

Click on 'usage rights' and you can tell Google to only show you images that are 'free to use, share or modify, even commercially.'

And that's what I did to get the great image for today's blogpost. ;-) [Thanks, Lara!]

And two for the road... The Writing Tools of 20 Famous Authors and Handy Advice. Enjoy! ;-)

Blind Spots and THREE announcements

Blind spots--we all have them when we're drafting. My main one is the overuse of the word as. Add a heavy sprinkling of that, just, and every -ly adverb and I have a lengthy search and destroy mission set for the first revision...and second...third... ; )

My characters also have a distressing habit of dropping the subjects of their sentences when they speak. So, add that to the list of problems I have to constantly seek out. Add the fact that they nod, smile, and grin through every possible scene and I'll be busy when I rewrite.

So. Share.

What are your most common blind spots?
Who knows, I might be doing the same thing and haven't noticed it yet. ; )

Announcement 1~~Don't forget--I'll be interviewing Charlotte Rains Dixon about her new book Emma Jean's Bad Behavior on February 19. You won't want to miss it. Charlotte is an author, writing teacher, and writing coach. Check out her blog at charlotterainsdixion.com.

Announcement 2~~Check out Lara Lacombe's big announcement! I'm thrilled for her and Edge of Trust! Another writer to introduce you to later in the year or early next year. ; )

Announcement 3~~There's a new home for women's fiction writers--Women's Fiction Writers Association. Here's what it is and how to join the loop. I'll add more info as the WFWA gets off the ground. ; )

“The need is for an organization dedicated to women’s fiction. Whether the stories are contemporary or historical; literary or commercial; include a dash of romance, a heap of romance or none at all; the stories all have one common thread—they are about a woman’s emotional journey.

A new organization—Women’s Fiction Writers Association—is being launched to fill the need. It will be an inclusive community of career-focused women’s fiction writers with networking, education and support at every step in their career path.”

To join the email loop and be part of the conversation, contact Laura Drake at Laura_drake1123 [@] yahoo [dot] com

Awards Season

I saw the Prime Time Emmy Nominations last Thursday morning little knowing that I was in Award Season myself. ; ) Both Deniz at The Girdle of Melian and Lara at Romance with an Edge have awarded me lately. Thanks to both of them for thinking of me. ; )

First up is the The Booker Award for blogs that talk about books, reading, or writing at least 50% of the time. The recipient must share their five favorite books, and pass the award along to five other awesome blogs!

• The Outlander series (Yes, all of them) by Diana Gabaldon
• The Vorkosigan series (Yes, again, all of them) by Lois McMaster Bujold
• The Challion series (You know the drill by now) by Lois McMaster Bujold
• On Folly Beach by Karen White
• The Skolian Empire series by Catherine Asaro

So sue me, there's more than five books in the list. ; )

Next, is the Be Inspired award. This award comes with 10 questions

1. What is the name of your book? FRIENDLY FIRE

2. Where did the idea for your book come from? A dream--I'm not kidding! I woke from a nap with the first scene fully laid out in my mind.

3. In what genre would you classify your book? That's a hard one. It's either mainstream or women's fiction. I'll have to fine tune it later.

4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition, who would you choose? Laura Grace is Kathy Bates and her romantic interest at the end of the book is Paulo Szot.

5. Give us a one-sentence synopsis of your book. Those closest to us inflict our deepest wounds, and none are so obvious as the ones of Samantha Smith, an abused foster child, or so hidden as those of Laura Grace Chandler, the retired widow, who will help her adopted daughter heal, finding healing for her own wounds as well. (I've been told that the first clause should get lost!)

6. Is your book already published or represented? No, I've got to finish it first--that and the three other books that follow it in the Cherry Hill series.

7. How long did it take you to write your book? Can I get back to you on that one? So far, four years and counting.

8. What other books in your genre do you compare it to? Or, readers of which books would enjoy reading yours? Some of Jodi Picoult's books or The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book? That's hard to narrow down. For the short list, I have to include Diana Gabaldon.

10. Tell us anything that might pique our interest in your book. FRIENDLY FIRE is set in a small Georgia town, but the problems its citizens face are universal--abuse in all it's many forms. That healing is available is the real lesson.

Last, but not least is the Fabulous Blog Ribbon. There are 3 sets of 5 questions for this one: 5 of your most fabulous moments, 5 things you love, and 5 things you hate.

5 most fabulous moments:

-my wedding day 35 years ago

-meeting one my all-time favorite author

-holding my two devotional books in my hands for the first time

-snuggling with kitties and puppies

-retiring so I could write

5 things I love:

-my husband

-my mother

-books

-tea

-writing

5 things I hate:

-migraines

-fatigue

-bugs

-weak wrists

-that there are only 24 hours in a day

Finally, here are the blogs I'm tagging for all these awards:

Women's Fiction Writers

The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment

Dispatches After Midnight

Past Perfect

S. P. Bowers