Random Thoughts: My Characters Follow me Everywhere

I'm not sure if anyone else has the problem I do, but this new series of mine is like walking around with a bunch of people in my head. I work in retail as a merchandiser so I'm constantly talking to people, which I love. I'm a people person. But when I'm working on my latest MS, my characters are right there talking to me at the same time. It's a little distracting when they're whispering in my ears about what they want in a scene or which scene they think should be next while a customer is asking where something is.

I know I talk out loud to myself too. I remember several years ago I was working and talking out loud and a customer came down the isle I was working on. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him give me a wide berth as he went around me. I had to laugh.

"It's okay. I do talk out loud to myself."

"As long as you don't answer yourself."

"Hey, sometimes it's the only time I can have an intelligent conversation."

That made him laugh and realize I wasn't some crazy lady - okay so I am a little crazy, but I try not to flaunt it too much.

This taught me to try to keep my thoughts to myself, especially if I'm working through a scene. There is no way anyone, but another author, would understand what I'm doing. They'd just give me a jacket with extra long sleeves and put me in a padded room. Can't type with those sleeves.

I just wish I could ride in the HOV lane with all these people in my head, but I'm not sure a policeman would understand. 

Writing Down the Bones: Writer's Block

So you're writing along. The words are flowing and then all the sudden you hit a brick wall. Not literally, but mentally. The words stop coming. You sit in front of your computer and find it hard to string two words together. The computer stares back, blank, empty. What do you do?

There are several ways to try to get the creative juices to flow again.

Try to sit and write for fifteen minutes a day. Even if all you get out is a sentence that you ended up erasing you did write.

You can try working on something else. Sometimes it's another story, sometimes it's gardening. I work through scene ideas while I'm merchandising, but I have the kind of job that involves a lot of busy work so I can free my mind and let it go do what it needs to do and I have been caught talking out loud to myself because of it. Thank goodness for Bluetooth, if no one is paying any attention they think I'm on the phone.

If you use the computer all the time then grab a pen and paper and try that. If you use pen and paper then transfer it to your writing program, try writing on in that program. If you write at a desk try sitting outside, or in a comfortable chair. If you write in silence try listening to music. I write while the TV is on. I'm able to drown it out as background noise.

Try free writing. If you can't think of anything dealing with your WIP write whatever you want. It might help steer you back to the story that has stymied you.

You could try to visualize what you are trying to write. Sometimes that helps. With all the different social medias I'd try one like Pinerest. Some of the images I see are awe inspiring. Maybe the pictures there will help get your creative juices flowing. Other authors post pictures of their characters, clothing they might wear, rooms or locations where their scenes might happen. You could do the same thing and it might help to get the words to flow again.

There is only one thing I can say about writing, don't ever give up. There times when you find it hard to put one word after the other. Just about every author has had that happen to them, but we work through it. You will too.

Random Thoughts: How my Male Hero from the Vespian Way Would Handle Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day. It doesn't matter if I get a card or a box of chocolates as long as my husband acknowledges the day. Now I think I need to warn everyone that we've been married twenty-eight years now and I might tease him that I'll change him in for two twenty-something year olds - that number changes as we get older, but he is my best friend and I wouldn't change him for anything in the world. He is my heart.

Now I sound like my characters in the Vespian Way series.

That is the one thing I haven't been able to work into my SF stories. Normally my stories take place on another planet so our holidays wouldn't be the same but with the holiday coming up I wonder what my hero would do to make the day special.

Can you see how these characters are always on my mind? It's kind of crazy.

I know Storm would take advantage of it. The man has a libido that doesn't stop. If it means he'll be intimate with Heather he'd do it.

Storm would do the research from Earth and have their bedroom decked out out in candles and rose petals. There would be chocolate covered strawberries, and champagne, even though Earth's alcohol doesn't effect him. Soft music would play in the background.

And then he'd wait in anticipation...

Writing Down the Bones: Formatting

When you submit your manuscripts do you read the publishers submission guidelines? Do they make sense to you? As an editor I'm always amazed at how the manuscript isn't in the proper font, or the proper size for the font (which is why I decided to talk about this). How many underline instead of use italics. So I went looking. I didn't get far. I went to Loose ID, Samhain (which by the way are part of Ellora's Cave), Melange Books (where I edit and publish short stories), and Phaze (my publisher for my longer books. Phaze, Hardshell Word Factory, Awe-Struck are part of Mundania Press). Loose ID, Samhain, Melange Books, Phaze - none of them have the same information for submitting to them so it's not like there is a standard grid all electronic publishers use. Yet writing for two publishers I know there are basic things they all want.

So here's what I know:

Electronic publishers normally want 1 inch margins all around, left justified, Times New Roman font, one space between sentences (not the two you learned in school) and they want it in RTF. All manuscripts and synopsis are to be attached to your e-mail, not in the body of that e-mail. The only thing you should put in your e-mail is your letter.

If you plan on using italics in your ms, use them instead of underlining. The large conglomerates might still tell you to underline, but most small press/electronic don't.

Here's where things can change from publisher to publisher. Although RTF is a good universal doc, some will take Word. You need to check with the publisher you intend to submit to if you want to use Word to make sure they take it. Not all publishers will accept Word Documents, but it does seem to be an industry standard.

Not all word programs are compatible, even when you convert it to RTF. I just edited one that was done in Open Office - a free beta program and it didn't play well at all with my Word 7 program. It was saved as an RTF, but every time the author addressed the changes I suggested it messed with the formatting. A slight pain since I corrected all the formatting only to have it erased when the author sent it back to me. This is something you should be aware of when writing.

Most publishers want double spaced, but not all. Now a few minutes ago I said single spaced between sentences, and now I'm saying double spaced. So there is no confusion when you were taught to submit papers in school you were told to put  two spaces  between your sentences, where most publishers only want one, which is different than double spaced rows. Here's an example:

Mary walked in the bar. She was followed by three of her friends. (one space between sentences)
Mary walked in the bar.  She was followed by three of her friends. (two spaces between sentences)

Mary walked in the bar. She was followed by three of her friends. (double spaced from the line above)

Most want a point three indent in each paragraph, not point five, which is the default indent in most word programs. If the publisher doesn't have this information in the submission section on their website then the best thing to do is to use the default indent instead of the tab button so your editor can set it to the right indent without a problem.

I also recommend you use page breaks when ending a chapter. I used to try to line up the pages by hitting the enter key until I switched pages, but every time I had something edited that would change. especially if the document had to be converted to RTF or my editor had a different version of Word. It will make you life a little easier. I don't think the publishers care one way or the other. It's one thing I've never gotten a 'hey don't do that' on.

When you do a scene break most seem to like the *. Both of the publishers I work with want four of them, but that is where it ends. One wants no spaces and the other wants spaces between them.

I hope this helps you when formatting your manuscript. Publishers really appreciate it when you do the real basics, it makes their life easier and you never know when something this simple can sell your manuscript or get it rejected.

Barb:)

Random Thoughts: Snow

I love snow. Where I live we don't get it that often, maybe once or twice a year and it rarely sticks so I'm always like a child when it starts. When it blankets everything it's like the world got a clean slate to work with. The silence of it as it falls wraps you in a cocoon, allowing you to forget everything for a moment.

Bundling up and standing in it for a few moments allows me to enjoy the wonder. It clears my soul of all the clutter it has collected for the year. That first snowfall is beautiful. The soft flakes land on my face like kisses, absorbing my frustrations and fears and allowing me to see the world in a different light.

There are times when we all need to forget the clutter that fills our lives and snow does that for me.

Writing Down the Bones: Chapter Hooks

I remember sitting in my local RWA chapter meetings talking about when and where to end a chapter. New writers want a formula. Some guideline they can follow. I knew authors who believed that they have to have so many pages per chapter, or having so many scenes in a chapter. But there is no right answer or perfect formula. The best way to end a chapter is with a strong hook.

A good hook will make your reader move on to the next chapter instead of using that as a place to put your book down. Having a strong hook at the end of each scene as well as each chapter isn't always easy but with practice you can work on your hooks. The worst scene break or chapter ending is where your characters are going to sleep. What is going to compel your reader to pick that book back up?

When I first started writing I wrote everything chapter by chapter. Each one was about ten pages long. Not real sure why I did that. It seemed to happen naturally, but I wrote in a way that when I ended my chapters there was a hook. It compelled me to write more and I found out it also compelled my reader to read on.

Now my writing style has changed with my new series the Vespian Way. I think it's because I can't seem to write fast enough on some of these books so I don't have the time to try to figure out where I want my chapter breaks. I now just write the scenes, one after another, then when I go to edit I look for good spots to end a chapter.

This makes it easier for me to look for a cliff hanger to end my chapter. A comment or idea that hints at more to come. Something to make my reader move onto the next chapter. I seem to be pretty good at it too. I do see comments from my fans saying they couldn't stop reading. That makes me feel good because I know I have done my job.

Here's a scene from my newest work in progress. No title yet, and like I said earlier I haven't set it in chapters yet, but I'm hoping this will show how I can take a scene and break it to give me that hook. I'm using this because I realized I needed to add a scene in this one section and the best place is going to be in the middle of a scene I had already written. It might not be the best cliff hanger but I hope it is enough make you want to read more.

So to the scene - understand this is the rough draft. Right now I'm just writing. There could be missing words, or the wrong word but right spelling. You might also see the same word a lot too - that is a writing habit I have My goal during this draft is to get the words on the page. I can fix any major flaws later.

This is from my eight book. To set the scene up Heather and Storm, my main characters for this series, have had to go into hiding from their enemy and are in disguise and working with a group from Vespian security. Their goal is to picked for an elite team but they learn there is a small contingent in their area they need to avoid.

She held up her fist and everyone stopped moving. Using the suit's camouflage, one by one they disappeared from sight. Heather talked to them through the helmet system. “There is a pond and a clearing about five clicks back. You need to make for that clearing and set everything up.”

“What about you?”

“I am the leader and need to make sure they don’t detect you. Power down your suits as much as you can.” She held out the gear she carried. That would remain invisible as long as someone held it. Loli took it from her so she could be free to lead their unwanted guests away. “I will catch up with you. Understand I probably won’t be alone.”

She was already peeling her uniform off as she dashed to the pond that had been detected. Once the suit was off she powered it down as low as she could and hid it near some roots of a large tree. The suit was still in camouflage but this made it easier on the system to hide and not use too much power. Next she ran to the pond and dove in. Keeping below the surface she unplatted her hair, slipping the small decorative clasp that held her hair over one ear. When she came up for air she wasn’t alone.

A sultry smile spread across her lips. “Hello. Have you come to play with me?”

Three of the men just stared at her. One made a strange gurgling noise, another said something incomprehensible, but the one in control spoke loudly. “No. What are you doing here? You’re too far from any village or town.”

“Ah, you think I’m some sort of spy?” She climbed out of the water. Droplets glistened on her skin. The humaniod men gawked at her nakedness. “I assure you I am not.”

“Where are you from?” asked the reptile.

“I am traveling with a few friends. Would you like to meet them?”

“No one has permission to travel in this area.”

“Not being able to travel would kill our business. We have our permits.” She started walking toward where she told her team to set up. Heather hoped she had given them enough time.

“Where are you clothes?”

“Didn’t bring any.” She continued to led them to the group.

“Or did you ditch your clothes to try to remain undetected.”

Heather turned to face him. He was so close to the truth is was scary. “You keep trying to make me into some sort of evil person. I am a pleasurer, sir. In my line of work clothing is very optional and I didn’t feel like worrying about clothing.”

“Or a drying cloth?”

“I love the feel of the suns on my skin. Like a kiss, it warms me.” She smiled as she turned and continued toward where the tent should be set up. Her heart fluttered when she spotted the bright blue of the tent between the trees they were walking beside. They were ready.

Her feet weren’t as tough as she pretended, but she ignored the pain she was feeling from stepping on a sharp rock. Their medic could look at it later, once they were safe. As long as she didn’t leave any blood behind they shouldn’t suspect she was lying. Pleasurers were known for their nudity, and for traveling the planet to offer their trade.

Storm was standing outside the tent when she came into view. She gave him a sexy smile as she walked up to him and put her arms around his neck.

Now I have redid it so I could insert the scene I wanted to. You'll notice I stared this scene a little later since you have already read it once:

A sultry smile spread across her lips. “Hello. Have you come to play with me?”

Three of the men just stared at her. One made a strange gurgling noise, another said something incomprehensible, but the one in control spoke loudly. “No. What are you doing here? You’re too far from any village or town.”

“Ah, you think I’m some sort of spy?” She climbed out of the water. Droplets glistened on her skin. The humanoid men gawked at her nakedness. “I assure you I am not.”

“Where are you from?” asked the reptile.

“I am traveling with a few friends.” She tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. “Would you like to meet them?”

“No one has permission to travel in this area.”

“Not being able to travel would kill our business. We have our permits.” She started walking toward where she told her team to set up. Ideas popped into her head. She needed help to pull this off and there was only one person who could help her.

****

“Sir? We’re being contacted.” The communication specialist turned to look at Fridon.

“By who?”

“Nuri, the one who scored highest yesterday.”

“I know who she is.” He found it interesting that she broke protocol. The insert Heather and Storm had gotten from the ancient computer had been given when they first found the complex had now been utilized with all security. Now he had someone using the system to contact them when they were told not to use the system unless it was an emergency. The main purpose was to give them the ability to speak to each person if something went terribly wrong. “Why is she contacting us?”

“She says it’s an emergency.”

“Put her on.”

Her thoughts were converted to dialog for them to hear. “Sir.”

“Why are you breaking protocol?”

“We have an opportunity, sir.” She paused for a moment as she spoke to someone near her. “We have a chance to put tracking devices on one of Reasta’s people and three of her soldiers.”

Fridon turned to the person tracking each group. “Show me.”

Data filled the screen as her location loaded as well as her team and their company. “How do you plan on deploying this idea?”

“We need tracking devices to implant. Something that Reasta can’t detect. I know I have a very good tech, but she doesn’t have the time to create something we can use.”

Fridon pulled up information on the new trackers they had created. This would be a perfect place to test them. “Does your team know your plan?”

“No sir.”

We will make them aware.” Fridon paused for a moment. “You realize this will cost you points.”

“This is bigger than trying to make it into the elite squad, sir.”

****

Heather was grateful that they were going along with her idea. Now she just needed to be sure they could pull off what she just promised head of security.

“Where are your clothes?”

“Didn’t bring any.” She continued to led them to the group.

“Or did you ditch your clothes to try to remain undetected.”

Heather turned to face him. He was so close to the truth is was scary. “You keep trying to make me into some sort of evil person. I am a pleasurer, sir. In my line of work clothing is very optional and I didn’t feel like worrying about clothing.”

“Or a drying cloth?”

Hooks do come in all shapes and sizes. I hope my example gives you an idea on how I do mine and helps you with yours. 

Random Thoughts: I feel like ranting

I have these days when I just want to scream. things don't go right. Maybe it's the weather and maybe it's me. Not sure why it seems to build up and build up until I hit a point where I want to explode.

Thank goodness I have writing to fall back on when this happens. I think I might just go mad if I didn't. I can step out of this world for a few hours and escape to the world I created. I think this is one of the reasons why I don't write the deep dark stories.

I want a good book that makes me smile.  I want to read a book that makes me want to go back to it because I love the larger than life characters, and the wonderful interaction between them. I look for humor, a good plot and I like to think I put all that in my books.

I want my reader to escape from the world that drives them crazy.

Writing Down the Bones: Italics

Italics is something used when showing inner thoughts. Something I hope everyone understands. You can also use them to emphasis a particular word. This makes it stand out to the reader. It can be used for proper names like Barbara Donlon Bradley, Dominated by Desire, New York, The Big Bang Theory.

This is something else that can be over used. You need to think about when you should use Italics. So lets say you have your characters thinking out loud to themselves, like dialogue, and want to make it look different from regular dialogue so you put it in italics, then you want to emphasis a word in your manuscript so you use italics again. Now you're showing how well read your character is so you use italics to show the title of a book, song, actor or major monument. Then you go deep into your characters point of view and want to show what your character is thinking differently so use italics again. It sound great but in reality what you 're doing is confuse your reader.

So now I'm going to try to over use italics. In my series, The Vespian Way my main character Heather can talk mentally to her mate, Storm. Will I do a good job of confusing my reader? Gosh I sure hope it works.

Heather is watching her mate snarl and growl at the man who is interested in his daughter. By the way this piece isn't in one of my books. but is the way Storm feels about Skye, I'm just creating this as an example.

Storm, why do you persisted in disliking Skye? Your daughter has chosen him as her mate. Heather stood next to Storm as their daughter talked to Skye for a moment.

The man bothers me. That's all. We know nothing about him.

Heather wanted to laugh. Storm didn't like giving up control, especially to another man. Skye was in Earth security, like she was and they had seen his file, an in depth one too.

It's not your choice, my heart. She hoped to remind Storm their daughter was an adult.

Doesn't stop me from disliking him.

The section above with Heather and Storm is short but can you see how all the italics desensitizes your reader? Did I need to put all those words like another, hope, in depth in italics? Or would you have figured out what was important without the italics because of the way I wrote the sentence?

But what if I want to emphasis something?

Try other tactics, like rewording the sentence so the emphasis comes naturally. It's not as hard as you think. Or you can do like I did in the previous paragraph. Use the one sentence in a paragraph all alone. It drew your eye didn't it? It stood out from the rest of what I have written here. That is what it should have done.

Italics are great and can help you get your point across as long as it is done in moderation. Have you noticed that seems to be a running theme in my writing down the bones series?

Ramdom Thoughts: And the New Year Begins

Glad to know we made it past the end of the Mayan calendar. Now we start the new year. I'm excited to see 2013. I have a good feeling about it. My series doesn't seem to be stopping - I'm already thinking about book eight while finishing the edits on book six and writing book seven. I'm excited to see where this series will take me.

Personally, my family is in good health, and finances are starting to look better so I might be able do a few of the things I haven't been able to do in a few years, like going to the Romantic Times conference.  I haven't been able to do that because, like so many others, we got hit by the newest recession or whatever the gov't called it and am just starting to peek up above the water. I was treading hard there to keep everything afloat for a while and got to say it got tiring.

Overall though I feel blessed. Been married for almost twenty-eight years, we celebrate that milestone at the end of the month, and still in love. I have an eighteen year old in college who is the joy of my life. Strong relationships with my family. 

Life is good.

Barb:)

Phaze is having a sale! 50% off - through the 5th of Jan  - the code is santa when you check out.

http://www.phaze.com/author.php?author=21

Shameless Promoting!

Here is a quick note to let you guys know that I have sold book 5 of the Vespian Way to Phaze. I'm really excited about that. Am working on finishing book 6 - I think one more run through will do it. And am working hard on the rough draft of book 7. As you can see the characters won't leave me alone and as long as they continue to tell me their stories I will happily write them.

The reason for this quick post though is to let you know that I'm blogging today - come on by and say hi!

Here's the webpage: http://lilysawyerbooks.blogspot.com/

At the bottom of my excerpt is an article on herding cats - when you read it you'll understand.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Barb:)