MONDAY MUSINGS: Research! Just how far DO readers think we go?

Obviously, authors research. Even if it’s only to double check if a certain style of shoe was worn during the 1800’s (for example). It’s the research and accuracy of details that add credence to an otherwise fabricated tale.

But what happens when aspects of a book an author is asking the reader to accept are something that can’t be researched?

Or would be nobody’s business if they had been researched?

I bring this up only because of certain comments I’ve seen dotted about the ‘Net.

For the first kind, I’ll refer to a Tweet and blog post I spotted by a well known author, who felt the need to state for the record that just because she writes urban fantasy with characters who can do stuff beyond what is considered ‘normal’ for our population (NB: this is not an exact quote), that does not mean she believes herself to be superhuman.

I concur. My books are all about werewolves. Trust me: I don’t actually turn into one myself. Not on week days, anyway. ;o)

Now … how about for the second kind? It’s a constant dispute I see from those who write what I like to call romp-romance: That just because they write erotica with X-rated scenes, does not mean they lead that kind of wanton life themselves.

This second one is even harder to judge. Right? I mean, just because a writer has written this awesome scene of sexual fantasy doesn’t necessarily mean they have actually BTDT. Right? Not convinced? Okay, what about all those female erotica authors who write M/M? No way on earth could they have made that kind of research on a personal level. You following me?

So how much does the fact that these elements have to be fabricated and not be based on fact compromise the story?

Yes, yes, I know werewolves can be researched. But not on your nelly can one research the process of a werewolf Change. OR the sensations one must endure to alter their physical structure by that amount. So we have no choice but to make it up. See?

Just as the (to keep my reasoning solid) latter mentioned for the romp-rom writers. No woman can ever fully understand how it feels to a man during intercourse, just as a man could never grasp the experience through a woman’s eyes. They would have only verbal or visual research for guidance.

But should, really, these writers actually be concerned by such comments that have incited these responses?

Or should they be flattered?

Surely, for the reader to believe the author had to have experienced these acts themselves should mean the author has done a bang up job in their portrayal of them.

Right?

What are your thoughts on author research? How far do YOU think they should go? Or is majority-fabrication acceptable so long as it’s done well?

MUSIC & LYRICS—I MEAN: WRITING!

Music and writing.

Or music combined with any other task, for that matter.

This is one of those combinations that either works awesome for you … or flat-out doesn’t. You can either listen to tunes whilst pondering your next scene (or task), or what should be pleasurable to absorb sounds on par with a swarm of irritating insects when you’re trying to concentrate.

Then there’s me.

I tend to fall somewhere in the middle. Sometimes, I have days in a row where I fire up my media player (see image) as I open my Word document. Other times, I might not listen to music for days. On the occasions I do, anyone in (VERY) close proximity will hear me warbling away to Kings of Leon’s ‘Closer’, then killing The Kooks ‘Naïve’, and then my most awful rendition of Adele’s ‘Make You Feel My Love’.

That’s only three songs out of a *playlist of twenty-eight. Only three songs before my mind becomes wholly consumed by the words on the page in front of me. Three songs before I am lost in a scene. And that’s whether I’m writing, editing, or proofreading—it’s ALWAYS the same number of songs.

I can most probably list most of the other songs I have on my play list. But the moment the tunnel vision kicks in and the deep state of zombification stakes claim, I no longer hear them.

So … what about you? To music … or not to music? What’s on your playlist?

*My playlist:

KoL, Closer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XatzX6WQ2ec

The Kooks, Naïve: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkaMiaRLgvY&ob=av2e

Adele, Make you feel …: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnn9JlqqTE4

Tom Jones, Burning down …: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYuFIrSLD84

KoL, Cold Desert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWkYu-hYTZs

Pink, I Don’t Believe You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26EP0ght2kI&ob=av3e

Black Eyed Peas, I Got a Feeling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tiPAvmy3eA

David Gray, This Year’s Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gNDUZZduKE

Tom Jones, Sex Bomb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KUJE2xs-RE

Adele, Chasing Pavements: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwTMyjTNBM8

Alanis Morisette, Ironic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc&ob=av2e

David Gray, You’re the World: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDstr09NJ5U

The Kooks, Seaside: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8OLb1DK9HY

KoL, Revelry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sA85wMC16A

Alanis Morissette, You Learn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci5j9yQ-528

Adele, Someone Like You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AW9C3-qWug

Tom Jones, Kiss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq3Vx28wG7Y

Johhny Cash, Folson Prison Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr0Vt7E7U7w&ob=av2n

The Hoosiers, Worried About Ray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61GrbjeNc1E&ob=av2e

Tom Jones: Baby, it’s Cold …: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PceqPkTdYgA

KoL, Sex on Fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUAmgkDqxTk

David Gray, Be Mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feE9OQoEzqA

Suzanne Vega, Luka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m9EWNDq9hw

Alanis Morissette, Head Over Feet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKnz3kAwRu8

KoL, Use Somebody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRgFeZa_I48

And Tom Jones/Robbie, Full Monty Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXsBGPorTIY wraps it up nicely.

Cheers, everyone.

And whilst I have you here, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to snatch your FREE copy of my short story, Fated Encounter:

HERE for Ebooks or HERE for Kindle.

 

 

 

 

Darkness & Light is available at the following outlets:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

WHSmith & Waterstones

BLOGS ARE AN AWESOME TOOL!

Though the sadness of this is that too many new writers are unaware of it.

Since I signed my first contract earlier this year, I’ve had more and more aspiring writers come to me, asking for advice and guidance on the industry.

Should they go the agent route? Or should they just submit direct to publishers?

Should they even bother with the publishers? Or should they self-publish?

The point isn’t what I think they should do—because only they can decide what’s right for them.

The point I do always try to get across to them, though, is that, whichever path they decide to follow, they need to make sure they have all the facts beforehand so they can ensure they make their decisions with eyes wide open.

Too many today still believe they don’t need to understand the first thing about the publishing industry or how to market their novel—so long as they can just procure an agent or convince some publisher to take them on then all the hard work will be done for them.

Um … this, to me, screams of laziness. I’m sorry, but it does.

Yes, ideally, it would be awesome to just hand over your work to someone else to take care of whilst you just sit back down and concentrate solely on writing … but … why would you want to?

You’ve spent months—some people, years—creating your masterpiece. Why the heck would you not want to see it through to the end? Why would you spend months and months polishing it until your eyes bleed if you plan to give it up at the point where you could get to see what Joe Public think of it? Why would you not WANT to play a part in it getting into as many readers homes as possible?

That’s all part of the achievement, right? Isn’t that what you invested your time, blood, sweat and tears for?

But … you’re right … in order to do that some education on the matter would be required.

And that’s where people hit a brick wall.

So many tell me they don’t know where to look for information.

More likely, they don’t know the information is out there, or what the information is, so they’re looking in all the wrong places and at all the wrong things.

So … I thought I’d put together a compilation of blogs I find helpful—either for writing tips, time management tips, marketing tips, or social media relevant to writer’s advice—and share it … with you.

1)       Top of my list: http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/

Kristen Lamb KNOWS what she’s talking about. It’s not about marketing your book so much as marketing your brand—YOU! Your name! The title you hope your readers will forever associate with YOU! Follow her blog. Listen to her. She makes sense.

2)       http://www.pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/

A blog written by some dude called Eric who works in a sales department of a publishing house (sorry, Eric, for the crap summary). You can learn some interesting stuff on there.

3)       http://blog.nathanbransford.com/

Nathan Bransford. I’ve learnt a lot from reading his blog—like the basics of writing a query or logline. Although he now talks more about his own writing experience (since he became a published author) than about the industry, links to all the real useful stuff can still be found in the left sidebar of his blog (though he does still come out with interesting stuff, too).

4)       http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/

There are often decent writing tips on this blog. Subscribe. Check ‘em out.

5)       http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/

A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing as written by author Joe Konrath.

6)       http://www.thepassivevoice.com/

The Passive Voice, where they talk about change in the publishing industry—whether for better or worse.

7)       http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/

Marketing Tips for Authors. Speaks for itself, right?

8)       http://kriswrites.com/

I’ve read some decent posts on the blog of Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Go check her out. Do it!

9)       http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/

The Writer’s Guide to E-Publishing is a great resource for those who’re thinking of going it alone—and has good information for those who aren’t, too. Follow them. Get their updated posts.

10)   And for those of you interested in following someone who has successfully self-published, consider: http://ljsellers.com/wordpress/

There you go! Although this barely covers all of them out there, this is my list of blogs I like to check out.

Hopefully, someone will get some use out of them.

How about you? What are your favourite blogs for advice? Do you have any you could add to this list?

Cheers for reading.

Darkness & Light is available at the following outlets:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

WHSmith & Waterstones

MY SON: THE PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

I received a letter in the post yesterday.

On the front it said: Parent/Guardian of Mini-Me* Belfield. Across the top it read: Young Writers.

I thought What’s this, then? and without further ado, ripped open the envelope, pulled out some papers, and started reading.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Recently, Mini-Me’s school … submitted some of their pupils’ work for Young Writers’ Mini Sagas competition. For this exciting competition, pupils were asked to write a mini saga on a theme that inspired them, with the added challenged of using 50 words or less.

Now, I remember said mini saga well. Mini-Me came home with the story to write as homework and told me he’d been set an ‘impossible’ task.

I told him ‘fiddlesticks’. Nothing is impossible in the world of writing. It’s the authors right to make anything happen that they so choose.

“But I can’t do it,” he’d said. “They want a setting, a character, and action … with FIFTY WORDS!” <<Yes, that last bit was said in full-on teenager style.

I told him to sit down. Then I told him to give me a name.

He chose ‘Jeffrey’.

I told him to give me a setting.

He chose a block of flats (apartments to the peeps across the pond).

So we stuck Jeffrey on the roof. And then we made him jump … to the next block of flats.

In fifty words, we’d created a free runner.

My son looked at me like I was kinda cool (only kinda), and he took his homework to school with pride in his eyes.

So, remembering said evening where I’d connected in a beautiful way with a fourteen year old boy (who just happens to be almost six foot tall and broad enough for me to hide behind), I read on in the received letter … and I reached a part that said:

… I am delighted to let you know that Mini-Me’s story, Leap, has been chosen for publication in Mini Sagas – Swashbuckling Stories The Midlands. A copy of the book will be sent to the British Library ……. providing a lasting record of your child’s achievement.

Ooooooooooooh, I thought.

Then I reached another part that said:

Leap has been typeset and a proof copy is enclosed. Please check the proof and mark any changes in red ink.

Just like how I work with my editor. Like a proper publication. With a date they must receive the edits back by and the signed form for copyright purposes giving them permission to publish it (an author’s version of a contract).

And then onto the last part where I read a bit that said:

Mini Sagas – Swashbuckling Stories The Midlands is scheduled for publication on 30^th November 2011.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

It is an awesome moment when a parent gets this kind of letter home—especially when it comes as a result of time we spent together and of him listening to me … yes, my son LISTENED to me (that’s an achievement in itself, right?).

So it is with pride swelling in my chest that I say: My son: The published author.

And here’s the certificate to prove it:

THAT BIT BEFORE THE END …

… of a novel that drives me nuts!

How many of you out there are novel writers? Who of you are plotters, and who’re the pantser’s?

Either way, I’m betting you all have/reach a certain point of your novel(s) that you struggle to get past.

Am I right?

Yeah, well … me, too.

Mine is that bit before the end.

You know the one?

You’re kinda trying to make the run-up to the stuff that will wow the reader–and to make the grand finale as grand as possible so it’s not forgotten by the time the reader turns the last page. But at the same time you don’t want to take away from the HEA you have planned, or the (for non-romance writer’s) ‘everything’s going to be okay’ reassurance, or (for the more convoluted minds out there) the twist you hit the reader with that leaves them staring at the page with a chill down their spine.

I hit that spot in Darkness & Light and rewrote a certain few chapters about three or four times before comfortable with their direction—I won’t clarify which ones/where due to spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet.

I hit that spot in Blue Moon (#2 of The Holloway Pack Stories and not yet released). Again, I shan’t clarify where for the same reasons as above.

Now I’ve hit that exact same spot in Caged (my current NiP and #3 of The Holloway Pack Stories). I’m less than 10k words away from ‘The End’. I know ‘how’ it ends. I know what has to happen between ‘now’ and ‘then’ for the reader/characters to reach the end. But … man, it’s like my head is trying to rush through it at manic speed because it’s seeing that light at the end of the tunnel. You know—that brilliant white light which pulsates with an energy that you know will leave you feeling 100% exhilarated, ecstatically happy, sad and exhausted all at the same time. You ever seen that light? Yeah, well, I can see it like a beacon in a storm and my darn stupid head wants to be there already.

So … what am I doing to ensure I don’t write something totally crap along the lines of:

Ethan headed back in, kicked everyone’s butt before they retaliated and he had to rely on help to win. Then he cleaned up the mess. Then he went home. Then he and Sean participated in an event which brought some exciting news for the pack. Then he reunited with someone he’d p****d off. And everyone was happy again. Yay, Ethan!

The End!

You see the dilemma I have? If I sent stuff out written to that standard, I’d be put in the stocks and have cabbages thrown at my noggin. Because it SUCKS!

So … because I have a perseverance I’m proud of (though it only exists in my writing), and I have more patience than is healthy for one person to possess, I’m making myself write it at the speed of a slug. To rush would be catastrophic. My tale would end up a mess. Whereas if I take my time, I’m forced to think about every scene between ‘now’ and ‘then’, and have far less chance of dragging the reader past details that have the potential to be important.

What about you?

How do you overcome it? Do you assume you have writer’s block (pffft—does … not … exist!)? Or do you slog on through? Maybe toss the novel aside and tell yourself you can’t finish it?

Where is your stumbling block? Do you have any great tips for getting past it?

Darkness & Light is available at the following outlets:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

WHSmith & Waterstones

DEATH MATCH RESULTS!

On July 24^th, I posted JUDGE JULIE! to announce a challenge that had arisen between a couple of my favourite authors: Jocelyn Adams and Aimee Laine. They each had around the same word count remaining to write for their current NiP’s, and decided to race each other for the finish line.

So, what did I do?

Well, declared myself judge, of course!

Why so?

Out of the kindness of my heart? Because I knew someone impartial needed to moderate and I had purely selfless purposes for agreeing to the job?

Of course not!

I had totally underhanded and ulterior motives for naming myself Judge Julie!

1)       I’d get to boss these two dominants about! That—trust me!—is a rarity!

2)       I got to make the rules for the challenge as sensible—or ridiculous—as I wanted!

3)       I knew I’d get to make the loser bow down to the winner! Ha! Yet more submissive behaviour bestowed upon them ::cue evil laugh here::

4)       This is my biggest and best reason and it shall take some explaining:

I knew what these ladies were working on. I have read and LOVED both of their debut novels: Little White Lies (out now) by Aimee Laine, and The Glass Man (October release—yep this lucky blighter had an ARC!) by Jocelyn Adams. And they both just happened to be writing the sequels to these two novels. Yay me! So, whoever won … I got to be the first to see a 1^st draft copy of what the public has to wait a loooooooooooong time for! Once again: Yay me!

Anyway, after much battling and distracting and attempts to intimidate, the first submission was sent for me to check over for its validity as the winning tale.

Yes, I have in my hands a FIRST DRAFT copy of Shadowborn, which will become the second Lila Gray novel to entertain the world on its release.

And yes, I have skimmed through it, and paused to read more than I should have, and YES, I have read the ending and sat with a stupid grin on my face whilst doing so.

Jealous?

Yeah, you should be!

So, without further ado, the winner is …

Due to the awesomeness of what I have this morning perused, I am mucho happy to announce …

JOCELYN ADAMS!

You WHUPPED Ms Laine’s a$$.

Following the rules of the challenge (made up by me! Ha!), Aimee now HAS TO announce her defeat in a blog post and bow down to Jocelyn’s brilliance. Oh, yes, she does! Chortle. And, whaddaya know? You can view said ‘Bowing down’ blog post HERE!

You can also view Jocelyn’s ‘Post of Triumph’ HERE at her blog—don’t forget to congratulate her whilst commiserating (no guffawing please—it’s not polite) Aimee.

This has been SUCH fun!

How about you? Have you ever gone head-to-head in a challenge? Did you win? Or were you a (gracious/ungracious) loser?

JUDGE JULIE!!!!

Chortle.

In case you’re wondering, Judge Julie is ME. Ha!

Why? you ask.

Well, there is a challenge afoot and … well … someone needs to keep the participants in line.

When two of my writer friends, Jocelyn Adams and Aimee Laine, boldly and publicly challenged each other in a race to the finish line in writing their current NiP’s the fighting talk commenced between the deadly duo.

Of course, they asked me to participate, but thanks to the edits due Book #2 of the Holloway Pack Stories (and the fact I type at, like, half the speed they do), I politely declined …

BUT a judge was still needed.

So … as judge (chortle) I get to make up some rules.

1)       The author canNOT write garbage. Each and every word must be relevant. No waffling (who d’you think you are? Me?)!

2)       You must both post your current word count in the comments section of this blog post, as well as your intended/estimated goal.

3)       You may each use whatever distraction techniques you deem necessary to give yourselves an advantage.

4)       You may toss complains my way about your challenger’s stalling methods, but you may NOT ask me to step in and mediate on them. I fully intend to remain impartial.

5)       Once you have written a bone fide conclusion to your novel, you will send the finished article to me via e-mail. I will check the word count, and I will also skim through to validate that you haven’t written garbage and that you have a worthy ending.

6)       Whoever sends me their finished novel first AND has me declare it a worthy product will be announced the winner!

7)       The winner will get to revel in their greatness in whatever way they choose.

8)       The loser will be expected to a) write a blog post bowing to the brilliance of the winner, and b) send chocolate (weighing no less than 100grams) to the winner.

RIGHT … LET THE GAMES COMMENCE!

What a great motivational tool this could turn out to be, eh? What ideas have you come up with to spur your fingers into action?