SATURDAY CHECK IN

Current Project: Up in the air
Status: Back to square one

For various reasons, the idea I submitted for consideration didn't work. I was given some suggestions on how to fix it and next week will decide if I want to make those changes or work on some of the other ideas I have rambling about in my head. I'm glad it all happened this way as I had invested just a little time and two pages instead of a huge synopsis and three chapters.

Today Eli and I are signing our books at Borders in Salem. If you're out and about, stop by and say hi. Please don't feel you have to buy something, I'd just like to see your smiling face.

Hope your weekend is a good one despite the turn in the weather. How are you doing on your projects?

You Tell Me

Current Project: Lost Proposal
Status: Chapter 3 (Trust me when I say...you don't want to know how many times I've rewritten chapter one. Why are some books so easy to write and others are like pulling teeth???)


So this blog is just shameless, SHAMELESS promotion. But since it's not just shamelessly promoting ME alone, I'm doing it anyway.

Fellow MWV blogger Alice Sharpe and I are doing a joint booksigning TOMORROW, Saturday, March 14th from 12:00-3:00 PM at the Salem Lancaster Borders Books & Music. Alice will be signing copies of her March 2009 Intrigue release, MULTIPLES MYSTERY, and I'll be signing copies of STOLEN FURY. If you are in the Salem area on Saturday, we would LOVE to see you.

As this is only my second "official" book signing, I have a warped opinion of what a book signing should be. Remember, my only other signing was my launch party. Where we sold 100 books. And EVERYONE was there because of me. (I should have had a tiara. That's how I felt.) Saturday's book signing will be very different. I already know this, have mentally prepared myself for the fact it could be a looooooong, lonely day, which is why I was smart enough to schedule this as a joint-venture rather than doing it all by myself. (See? the Nut doesn't fall THAT far from the tree, grasshopper. Misery, er...creativity loves company.)

So with all that said...instead of a long boring post about signings, I'd like YOU to tell ME about the best book signing you've attended. Whether it was one you signed at or one you attended. What stands out in your mind? What makes a GOOD book signing GREAT? And what do you wish authors would do more of at signing events? (Please keep your wish list in the PG-rated range. *grin*)

WHY SHOULD I READ YOUR BOOK?

Posted by: Genene Valleau

Current Project: editing a novella, CHASING RAINBOWS
Status: Making good progress!

Have you ever envisioned your readers? I mean really thought about who they are and what they do with their lives and why they are reading your book?

Why did they pick up your book? Are they a friend? A family member? Someone you've never met?

What did they expect when they picked out your book? Did they want the emotion of falling in love? Or the experience of living in the West when cowboys rode the rugged ranges? Did they want to imagine what the world would be like if electricity had never been invented or if our cars were powered by solar batteries instead of fossil fuels?

Would they recommend your book to someone else? Why or why not?

I have to confess that this is not an exercise I've done before. Sure, I want to sell books--the more the better! But I've not actually dropped inside my readers' heads and imagined what they are feeling when they read the words I've written.

My younger son says when he reads my books he can see the story play out like a movie in his head. My older son sheepishly admits he never thought he would get so involved in a romance book. I take both of these comments as high praise. If they didn't like the stories, their silence would be very telling.

Friends who are not writers have generously complimented me about how well-written the stories are. I think some of this is still the shock of realizing they have known me for years and never imagined this entire other world I live in much of the time.

Then there are people I have never met before who gush over the stories and reviewers who write glowing -- or not-so-glowing -- reviews of my books. And what about the potential readers who read those stories and didn't care for them, so kept silent? Or those who decided not to even give them a try? Why? What part of the stories resonated with them or jarred them out of my story world?

Were these readers distracted by other pieces of their lives? Did troubles in their lives disappear for a few hours while they lived in my story worlds? Did they laugh and cry and get turned on and sigh with satisfaction when they reached the happy ending? If their budget only allowed them to buy another one of my books or a movie or a CD of music, which would they choose?

Some writers may say these are the kind of questions that could paralyze you to never write another book for fear of not pleasing any potential reader. However, I've found taking this imaginary trip makes me want to dig deeper into each character's emotions and double-check descriptions to be sure they fit the tone of the story yet engage the emotions in a fresh and unique way. OK--to write the very best story I can. These questions have also given me ideas about promotion and how to reach potential readers.

So how about you? Do you look at your stories through a reader's eyes? If so, what insight has that given you?

Stop by and enter Rogue's Angels first contest drawing @ www.roguesangels.blogspot.com

TIME SINKS

Current Project: good question
Status: waiting

It doesn't happen very often that I draw a blank on blog day, but it has today. And maybe that's not such a big surprise. I am in that wasteland called waiting and boy, does it get old. Yes, I know there are things I could be doing. I have a new release out this month -- I could be hitting the blog circuit, but come on, this is me. I haven't updated my website in well over a year, so let's not get crazy. I could get a few other proposals ready to go, but inertia has reared its ugly head. Waiting to hear back on the one I already sent seems to have knocked the wind out of my sails.

I called a friend with a very tight deadline the other day and asked if she had time to talk. She admitted she did, that she was playing Spider Solitaire. When I laughed, she said she tells herself that it's good for her writing, that it uses the other side of the brain. I wasn't laughing at her, however, I was laughing with her because I have a few of those time sinks as well.

Lately, however, my time sink games have gotten into a rut and I'm on the prowl for new material. I'm not talking interactive things, here, like Twitter or surfing the web or reading countless editor blogs. I'm talking near robotic stuff that gives the creative side of my brain time to recharge. That's my story, and as they say, I'm sticking to it.

Do you have any ideas for me?

I'll post another pertinent rendition of TextTwist, my current addiction, and check back in with the answers later today.

NIIOFCT

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Current Project: good question
Status: waiting

Isn't this a beautiful crystal ball? I used it in a blog several months ago and several people commented on it so I thought I would trot it out as window dressing because the truth is terrible: I don't have a darn thing to write about.

This has happened only once or twice before and both those times I was able to come up with something at the last moment but this time, I'm a blank!

I Love a HEA

Current Project: New Romantic Suspense
Status: Outline and 3 Chaps

My girls have been fascinated with President Obama's daughters. I understand completely. They are similar ages with no brothers. I've overheard conversations about what it'd be like to live in the White House and what it'd be like if daddy were president. So when I was at the video store on Saturday and spotted First Daughter (2004) with Katie Holmes, I grabbed it, delighted to find a movie they hadn't seen and that would surely hold their interest. I did a quick peek at the back of the box, saw the PG logo, and added it to the requested Legally Blonde 2 (ack) and The Last Unicorn.

Samantha McKenzie is about to enter college as her father campaigns for his second term. She's lived with secret service protection since she was fourteen and longs to be a normal, anonymous kid in college. The long procession of black Suburbans and the bullet proof limo doesn't make for an anonymous arrival at her school. She's mortified to find the college band playing Hail to the Chief as she and her parents step out of the car.

Predictable problems occur. A sassy roommate who pressures Samantha to lighten up. Confrontations with anti-President McKenzie protesters. Paparazzi. Embarrassing photos. After her four member secret service detail tackles a boy with a squirt gun at a frat pool party and whisks her away in the blink of an eye, Samantha demands a smaller, more discreet detail. To her delight the detail is reduced to two burly, bald men.

The love interest is her resident advisor, James. Marc Blucas (Riley Finn) from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's a good-looking, hunky student who purposefully draws attention away from Samantha during an awkward classroom lecture where every eye was on her and her detail sitting in a circle around her. Over a few convenient encounters and a scene where James helps her escape from paparazzi and enjoy moments of being "normal," Samantha falls for the guy. I do, too. It's PG, so the kiss is sweet and tender.

Then there is a nice twist I stupidly didn't see coming. In a tight situation James shoves her into a black limo and speaks into the mic at his wrist. He's secret service! This twist also surprised my husband who hollered "What!?" at the scene.

She's crushed. James nearly loses his job for getting too close. They try to stay apart but come together for one last White House Christmas ball and simple kiss. It's a beautifully shot film. Lots of gorgeous ball gowns, long close-ups of Katie who is terrific at showing emotion, and it simply creates a sweet romance that any girl would love.

Then it falls apart in the last two minutes. She returns to college and he stays at the White House. An agent comments that she'll be home for spring break and the movie ends. My husband and kids stared at the credits, confused.

"They broke the main rule of every storybook romance. There's no HEA." I stated, supremely annoyed.

"What's that?" Hub asks.

"Happily Ever After."

I think the writers were trying to avoid a predictable Hollywood ending, but that's what I wanted! Even my husband and kids did. Sometimes it's right to break the rules, but this wasn't the place. Literary fiction often avoids the HEA, but this movie wasn't literary, it was 100% Cinderella. And Cinderella deserved to ride away with the prince.

What movies or books have held you enthralled and then left you empty and disappointed at the end?

Research & resources

Current Project: Leg Shaving Leads to Trouble
Status: Rewriting the first 5 chapters after some re-plotting last week (think I got it this time!)

As a few of you know (who were at the beach retreat), I changed my story a bit to have the hero and heroine studying the effect of scent on mood. I was struggling for a reason why the two were even interacting, beyond working together - and I think this is something that fits.

The problem then became, what is the effect of scent on mood? I have no clue. And to be honest, I don't trust Google at all. Google doesn't get you the academic sources where research is actually being done, it gets you corporations who are putting together research to sell their product. Then it dawned on me, I work at a university! Where there are PROFESSORS! Psychology professors who do this kind of research! That was quite a lightbulb moment.

Last week I had a wonderful chat with one of our psych profs who has done some research on the effects of scent on mood. She gave me a copy of one of her articles and pointed me to some great research resources. Again, I am lucky to work at a university because I have access to a ton of research resources. So I might as well take advantage!

I found quite a few articles talking about various scents and their possible impacts and it has helped me re-plot the first third of my book, which I have been struggling with for a while.

How have you reached out to other people to research for your stories? Were you nervous? I sure was.

SATURDAY CHECK IN

Current Project: Proposals
Status: One Written and Sent, Three More to Do

Good morning, everyone. Hope you have an entertaining weekend planned or can at least kick back and recover from your week.
Today, for me, is visiting Mom day and that's always a crap shoot. It can be warm and fuzzy, scary and disturbing, or way off whack and there's no telling what to expect until after I punch in the code and walk inside the residence. Someone asked me if I was writing all this down so I could remember and use it in a book and I just stared at them. Uh, no. For one thing, I doubt I'll ever forget any of it and for another, I like happy endings.

Meanwhile, I've started the process of plotting and planning possible candidates for the option book and a new contract should I be fortunate enough to get one. I'm excited about the idea I just sent and would love to write the actual book so we'll see.

Your turn...

Can We Say...Supernatural?

Please Help me welcome guest blogger and Nocturne/Dorcester author, Linda Thomas-Sundtrom. Linda writes paranormals for Nocturne Bites and Dorchester Publishing. Her first book from Dorchester, Barbie & the Beast, releases April, '09!

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Hello MWVRWA. It's so nice to meet you all and have a chat. Since I'm from the west coast, where it's a sunny 75 degrees here at the moment, and birds are singing outside my window, I'll sip some iced tea and hope you'll join me for a while. Before I get back to my deadline. (I've always wondered why that thing lurking is called a deadline. Anybody know? Like maybe your career is dead if you go past that book's due date?) Ha.

Shall I tell you a snippet about myself? Well, I'm a paranormal writer, through and through. No matter how hard I try to write a straight novel or romance, it turns south toward that big "P." It's just something in my blood, I guess. In our family, when I was growing up, telling spooky stories or watching spooky movies was a part of our weekend routine. At that time, supernatural and paranormal were considered "out of the box." I'm not so sure about today. What do you think? Do any of you have the need to delve into the supernatural realms?

My first book was fantasy, called "Cafe Heaven (An autobiography of the Afterlife)," about a guy, a diner, a blonde recruiter for the devil's side of the pavement, and the infamous old Route 66. That book was dedicated to my father, who I'm sure whispered the words to me from the Great Beyond. Café Heaven is currently being considered as movie fodder, which as we all know doesn't mean much in Hollywood until an actual contract were to come through.
Still . . . isn't that a kick? And pretty darned well thrilling?

My next story was a romance published by Kensington Brava, and Brava's first vampire story. The anthology created around it was titled Immortal Bad Boys. My tale was dark historical vampire fare.

Then I just had this story in my head that so opposite from the dark vampire historical, that I took an entire year to write the whole book. "Barbie & the Beast." My blurb on this book would be: A romp through the world of paranormal dating.

Did I mention that I have two distinct sides of my paranormal personality? Light and dark? And that the term "branding" can only apply to me in terms of knowing I'll write a paranormal of some kind?

My opportunity for showcasing "Barbie & the Beast" came in the form of the American Title 3 contest, sponsored by Dorchester and the Romantic Times Book Review Magazine. I entered, was chosen one of ten to participate, made it to the top 4, and Dorchester ended up buying the book.

"Barbie & the Beast" will be released this April 1. I am just so excited! Can you see me wiggling?

A dark, sexy tale appeared next in my brain that had Silhouette Nocturne branded on it. By submitting this novella to them, I garnered a 5 book contract! Yikes.

My first two Nocturne Bites,"BLACKOUT" and "WOLF BAIT" have just been released this January and February. I'm currently writing the next full book in that series, and really digging it.

And . . . the point of all this recent success? Lessons learned?

I followed my internal directional beacon by writing what I wanted to write, when I wanted to write it. Yes, it can happen! It's true. You can write that book that's chattering to you, if you're willing to wait for the opportunity for marketing it to strike. And if you have plenty of patience. My reminder was that writing was my passion, not necessarily publishing. Though I will be the first to admit (and with many squeals of delight) that getting published by New York is better than jumping over the moon, still . . . the beauty was in the journey from mind to paper. The process of telling a story from start to finish was and continues to be, for me, rewarding.

The magic key for the times for me turned out to be WEREWOLVES ! Because those tall, dark, sexy Weres are humanish males most of the time, and warm, mostly normal, and alive . . . This just opened itself right up to creativity and wishful thinking.

I'll bet all the folks in snowy climates wouldn't mind a warm body right about now. So, I'm hoping that curling up with one of my three current werewolves might be the ticket. Theres' something for everybody. Comedy, tragedy, and the space in between the two.

Barbie's beast is a part-time furball. Pure girly fun. The series for Nocturne, much darker than little Barbie, of course, is about a criminal werewolf biting innocent people in Miami, and what happens to those folks who are bitten. Each story in the Nocturnes has a male and female finding each other through this startling "transition."

I am so thrilled to be writing these days, that I can't wait to get to a keyboard, or hold a blank piece of paper in my hands. Though I do have a day job (teacher), and a family (adorable), and some acreage that needs tending (country girl) . . . I have to share with all of you my love for writing, and how patience and perseverance (and werewolves) can make us all the published writers we have always wanted to be.

So, now . . . Why don't you tell me a little bit about your own paths toward success and fulfillment. And of course about that paranormal tweak in your DNA that you might or not have. Speak to me! I'm listening.

Love,
Linda

www.lindathomas-sundstrom.com

What's in your bag?

Current Project: Surviving February and March
Status: Half Done!

One of my favorite short stories to teach is "The Things They Carried," both for its beautiful centering narrative and for the depth and variety of descriptive writing. The items that each solider chose to carry reveals much about each one's character. I then ask students to dig through their bags and purses to find three unusual items and describe each in a way that reveals its significance to them. Literary fiction authors (I really hate that term as ALL fiction is literature) often toil with description, working with the nuisances of wording, and building up lavish portraits of inanimate objects. (Case in point, the tree in Separate Peace). Sometimes, however, in romance novels, items get overlooked in favor of rippling pecs, smoldering glances, and witty banter. Of course, fashion occupies a good deal of page real estate in many novels, but I'm talking about what's in the purse, the bedside table, the desk drawer, the kitchen junk drawer, and the bathroom vanity. This is a shame because used judiciously item descriptions can do a lot of showing of character and save you from all that tedious telling. In Out of Control, Suzanne Brockmann uses the contents of the heroine's purse to reveal much of her backstory, show her character traits, and reveal much of inner hopes and dreams. She also manages to tie story arcs together using items from the purse. Pretty nifty, eh?

So, let's try an exercise. (You knew this was coming!) Pick three items from your purse and give a description that moves beyond "the pink cell phone" and the "set of nine keys." Bonus points if you do the same for your heroine or hero.

Inspiration

Current Project: Untitled WIP
Status: 547 words of ~100,000

I'm back from my trip, complete with a cold. I've been trying to catch up on blog posts and emails and what-have-you, but haven't really been able to retain much due to the whole feeling loopy from being sick thing. Of course, having about 2,000 new work emails plus several hundred personal emails to go through might also have something to do with it. Ah, well, I'll get there eventually.

I was reading Paty's post from yesterday about light bulb moments during research (paraphrasing here, sorry Paty) and got to thinking about inspiration in general. I'm not sure why, but I always find it interesting to hear from other writers about the genesis of their stories. Maybe it's because everyone takes a different path and the leap from that first spark to finished creative product seems so mysterious.

The new project I'm working on started with a initial flash of inspiration from a certain image. It was the kind of inspiration that hit hard, like having the wind knocked out of me. I honestly have no idea where this is going to take me, but that flash was so strong that I know I have to follow it. And if past experience is any indication--and if I'm very, very lucky--just about everything I see, read and hear in the next several weeks will reinforce that inspiration.

Looking back, I can trace almost everything I've ever written to a first flash of inspiration, that sudden thought that "hmm, I could use that in a story." My inspiration has been as varied as a song, a scene from a movie, an image on the web, a couple of seventeenth century portraits hanging in a bedroom in a castle in Copenhagen, and a fragment of a very vivid dream. In one particularly productive instance I wrote over 100,000 words of a story that was initially inspired by a 15 minute segment on NPR's Science Friday about gene therapy. The eventual story had nothing to do with the segment, but the segment was most definitely the catalyst. Some day I'm going to have to re-work that idea and write the story it really deserves. *sigh*

That initial flash of inspiration isn't the only thing that goes into a story, of course, but it always feels like once you have that spark--and if it's strong enough--everything else starts to fall into place. Have you ever noticed how even information that you've ignored in the past, that's been right in front of you all the time, suddenly jumps out at you if it fits into the story you're working on? This is similar, I think, to what Elisabeth talked about a few weeks ago regarding Magic happening. Sometimes I picture the process of writing as a little bit like creating a Witch's brew. A little Eye of Newt, a pinch of sulfer, a dash of oregano, stir and bring to a boil, then simmer for 100,000 words and voila! (Yes, and sometimes I wonder about myself, too.)

So, what about you? Where do you find inspiration? Do you remember what started you on your current story? Does the initial inspiration stay vivid for you or does it fade over time until all that's left is the finished creation?

When Research Becomes a Light Bulb

Current Project: Doctor in Petticoats
Status: page 57

Yes, I didn't write anything on the WIP over the weekend, but I've been doing research. And I find it ironic that the book I'm reading Pioneer Doctor - The Story of a Woman's Work by Mari Grana, talks about the subject Delilah Marvelle talked about at our January meeting. It is the story of the author's grandmother who became a doctor in 1889. She was a very forward thinking woman and she, even though it was against the oath she took as a doctor, helped women to not become pregnant.

Reading this book it is amazing to what lengths the women with 5 and 6 children would go to to rid their body of another pregnancy. The tales are sad, but it shows the fortitude of this woman to help other women and the ignorance of men at that time. And the comical ways that contraceptive businesses used in order to get their 'goods' to the public. And the goods that were deadly.

It wasn't enough that women had to endure hard work, multiple births, and and in some instances a husband over imbibing in alcohol, but the so-called miracle pills that would help them relieve their pregnancy were sometimes mixed with lethal proportions of drugs.

This book has not only helped me with the character for the book I'm working on now, but has given me some thoughts about characters for future books. Which to me is always a bonus! I love it when research for one book sprouts ideas for another. It seems to always happen that way and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Do you find that happens to you? While researching for a current project do you stumble onto something that triggers an idea for another story?

SATURDAY CHECK-IN

Current Project: thinking
Status: wishing I was more clever

It's that time again.

I'll go first. As noted above, I'm plotting in my head. Two ideas appeal to me than the others, so I'm mulling them over, trying to fill in the gaps before I start writing. Your turn.

How Hip Are You?

Current Project: Marked Revisions
Status: Done! (Now back to the RA proposal)

Happy Friday from the Beach! Sorry this post is late. My internet was down this morning at my house, so I didn't get to post until now. And NOW I'm sitting in the living room of the beach house, looking out at a view of Haystack Rock, a giant sand dune and surf boarders out in the cold, cold surf. This is the life, baby!

So first off, before I dive into my topic...a little housekeeping...

Happy Release Day to Genene! In case you live in a hole in the ground, you already know that Stars in your Eyes releases today! Book three in Genene Valleau's rocker trilogy is available for e-book download from Awe-struck Books.

On stage, band leader Zach Zacata controls the emotions of thousands of fans, but he can't control his middle-aged body. When he has a heart attack, best friend and sometime lover Lauren Westover provides a place where Zach can heal. As Zach watches Lauren pursue her dreams, he finds the courage to share a childhood fantasy to explore faraway galaxies...at least through a telescope...in a kids' program called STARS IN YOUR EYES.

Secondly, Alice Sharpe and I are doing a joint book signing on Saturday, March 14th from 12-3pm at Borders Books & Music in Salem. 2235 Lancaster NE, Salem, OR. Join us for a good time if you're in the area!

And finally...a mini treasure hunt! I have to share this because it's pretty cool (and because I'm participating). Win Prizes in the NIGHT OWL ROMANCE WEB HUNT. Enter the Hunt for the chance to win Ebooks, Advanced Reading Copies, Print Books and other author goodies. The hunt runs March 1st – April 1st, 2009. Make sure to get your entry in soon. You can find contest details at: Night Owl Romance.

Okay...on to my topic. So last night the DH and I were watching Friday Night Lights, the one show I'm addicted to. In last week's episode (which we DVR'd), the young phenom freshman quarterback is taken to his first party. He doesn't drink, is kept on a tight leash by his overbearing father who thinks he's God's gift to football. Like all kids though, he finds himself at the mercy of peer pressure, and the next thing you know, the young freshman phenom is drinking and partying like, well, a rock star. And what happens? Everyone at the party has a cell phone. With a camera.

I looked at the DH and said, "Aren't you glad cell phones weren't around when we were young and stupid?" He, of course, agreed. But it got me thinking about how much has changed over the years. Most of us write heroines (and sometimes heroes) who are younger than we are. For the most part, it's easy because while we may not be 27 anymore, we've been 27, so we know the angst and worry and emotions a 27 year old goes through. But considering how much technology has changed just in the few short years since I was 27, it got me wondering how hip I am when it comes to what young people know and do today.

So, while this isn't TOTALLY the same thing, let's do a little mini survey and see how hip you are. I'm sure Lisa will get all of these, but take a shot at them anyway. (And Lisa, wait to post your answers so you don't throw off the rest of the group!) See how many words from the IM slang list you can decode. I'm sure most teens...and most 20-somethings...know these no problem. Have fun, and if you don't know something, take a wild guess. I'd love to see your answers! (The correct answers will be posted later).

1. B4N
2. AFAIK
3. AYTMTB
4. BEG
5. BFO
6. BSBD&NE
7. CRBT
8. DKDC
9. ESO
10. FITB
11. GMTA
12. HIOOC
13. IMHEIUO
14. L8R
15. OMIK
16. PU
17. RUOK
18. TTFN
19. VI
20. YOYO

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME

Posted by: Genene Valleau

Current Project: Promoting STARS IN YOUR EYES
Status: Celebrating the release of STARS on February 27!


Do you remember the first time you had sex? Was it an orgasmic delight? A comedy of fumbles? An experience that left you wondering is that all there is?

What about your first novel? Does it hold a special place in your heart? Are you still working on it? Did it get published? Is it hidden under the bed, on a dark shelf, in a drawer--or did it get burned?

As with making love, a lot of attention and articles have focused on the first time or debut novels. How you prepare for The Call. What to watch out for in the contract. What to expect from your editor, your publisher, the art and marketing departments. What advances, royalties, print runs and distribution will be, etc., etc.

Not so much has been written about second novels and most of that focuses on actually selling a second book and not disappearing into the slush pile--or worse--after just one sale.

My questions aren't just for authors who have already seen multiple books published, but for those pursuing a career as a writer who want to see more than one or two of their stories published. What about third books? Or twelfth books? Or book thirty-four? Are those books different than the first one or two?

I've already mentioned on our chapter blog and loop that one of the reviews on my third novel wasn't so great and that I started second-guessing my writing. I've also struggled to generate the same excitement for its release that I felt for my first release and even my second one. Is it third book syndrome (if there is such a thing!)? Are the release dates so close together that I was still working on promotion for the previous book and here it is time for another release?

Or are those simply excuses like "not tonight, I have a headache"?

Though I came slowly to the realization, the "whys" didn't matter as much as what was I going to do to build enthusiasm for this release. Fortunately, I was already scheduled to blog in several different places this week, so I can promote my current release on those blogs--like this one! In addition, my contest is running and I can pump more prizes and exposure into that. I can also use the release of this book to remind readers of the previous two books that have some of the same characters, as well as launch promotion for the three connected books as a set. Yeah, yeah--just when you thought it was safe to go on the Internet again!

Going through this process reminded me of what I love about this story. The characters in STARS IN YOUR EYES are different than other heroes and heroines I've written about. They are older--nearing forty. They are more flawed than my previous main characters and struggle with those flaws more. However, they also possess a sense of loyalty and love for each other that means they will allow the other person to walk away if that is truly what is best. This story is also more light-hearted than my previous stories. There's still a killer on the loose, with shots fired and an action-packed dark moment. However, there are many humorous scenes too.

So how do you recapture that "first time" excitement--of making love or enthusiasm for your stories? Or do you? Is it better not to try to capture that "first time" experience, but to treasure the unique joy of each time, of each release?

P.S. If you want to enter my contest, visit my Web site at www.genenevalleau.com by midnight tonight (February 26). I've included something for each day of the countdown from 10, 9, 8...until release day on Friday, February 27!

THE THIRD CHAKRA

Current Project: still nothing
Status: still out of work

One day I had a heroine respond to a setback by saying "She felt as though she'd taken a blow to her solar plexus." Then I got to wondering what exactly a solar plexus was (and where) so I Googled it. One of the images that caught my eye is the one above and as I looked at it, I got to thinking how it could translate into creating a well rounded character.

In case you can't read the words that point to the different symbols traveling down the center of the figure, they are as follows:At the very top, Spiritual enlightenment. In the center of the forehead, Psychic abilities, then Truth and creativity, Emotional heart, Survival issues, Inner child issues and lastly, Sex, money, power.

We all have each of these elements, together they make us a total package. Our characters have these aspects, as well, whether they inhabit a fantasy world or a nitty gritty mystery or a romantic comedy or a high seas adventure. If they are to become memorable for a reader, then they will have had to deal with all of these core issues.

Many of us start our character building by thinking about the inner child and the unresolved issues that our adult characters carry with them. As we move them through their world, the facets of their personalities reveal themselves. They may be the victim of poverty or the benefactor of wealth. They may be powerful or perhaps we put them in a position where power has been stripped away. They have to eat, they respond to cold, fire burns them. Their emotional heart is broken, stepped on, abandoned or else it so big it carries them away. They show their creativity in the way they approach problems and deal with adversities, the way they communicate with others, the chores, physical, mental and emotional that they are prepared to handle. Many times, we have them "sense" something that feels like intuition and in the end, some king of "Spiritual" enlightenment shows them the way to fulfillment.

I offer this merely as something to think about. I've been reviewing my last hero and heroine and wondering if I hit these facets. I'm actually looking forward to the editing process to see if I did and if I didn't, to work on it.

There was a quote on this website that I am sharing here. It was prefaced by a picture of a remote control:

"Just as each button of a remote control is
programmed for a specific function of a device,
Each chakra governs a certain aspect of our human life.

If somebody said something or did not say...and you got affected,
somebody did something or did not do...and you got affected...
it's said, "They" pushed your buttons.
If your peace and harmony are dependent on others,
If your buttons are pushed a lot...
The remote control of your life is in someone else's hand.

Empowerment simply means
Holding the remote control of your life in your hands."

Amen.

Analogies

Current Project: Brand spankin' new project
Status: Research and outline

I stole these from agent Rachelle Gardner's blog. I had to share. My thoughts are in italics.

ANALOGIES YOU PROBABLY WON'T FIND IN GREAT LITERATURE:

The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty Bag filled with vegetable soup. How visual is that?!

From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and "Jeopardy" comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30. I know exactly what he means.

Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze. Ewww.

Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots in the center.

Bob was as perplexed as a hacker who means to access T:flw.quid55328.com\aaakk/ch@ung but gets T:\flw.quidaaakk/ch@ung by mistake. One of my favorites.

Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree.

The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

Her date was pleasant enough, but she knew that if her life was a movie this guy would be buried in the credits as something like "Second Tall Man." Another favorite.

Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph. Ack! 7th grade math! I hated story problems.

The politician was gone but unnoticed, like the period after the Dr. on a Dr Pepper can.

They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth. Another ewww.

John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met. *Snort*

The thunder was ominous sounding, much like the sound of a thin sheet of metal being shaken backstage during the storm scene in a play.

His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free. Slightly disturbing visual.

The red brick wall was the color of a brick-red Crayola crayon. I can clearly see the color of this wall!

Can anyone come up with more?

Getting the most from your weekend

Current Project: Leg Shaving Leads to Trouble
Status: Sobbing over the 30,000 words I cut out over the weekend :(

This weekend is our chapter's beach retreat. I, for one, am definitely looking forward to it. The retreats are hit and miss when it comes to my writing progress - it depends on what kind of mood I'm in. I remember one retreat I spent most of the weekend taking naps, but I needed it! There was another where I wrote 50 pages.

I have a feeling this weekend is going to be productive. I had some time away from my book and finally figured out a different angle to take that will be much better. I'm doing some research now so that I'll have it at my fingertips this weekend (I need some science heavy stuff). But I don't know how successful I'll be until the weekend gets here.

There are a few things I try to do to prepare for retreats like this, to get the most from them.
1) Do any necessary research in advance. Some of the houses we stay at don't have internet (I think this one just has a single ethernet hookup). I don't want to be stalled or distracted by research background I need for dialogue.

For my current book, the hero and heroine are working on a psychology research team. I know I want their research to be somehow related to sex, to steam it up a bit, but I have no idea what kind of sex-related psychology research is going on. So I need to do some Googling and prepare myself so I can sprinkle those bits into my scenes and dialogue this weekend.

2) Do some pre-plotting or at least think about where you want to go. I know you pansters are freaking out right now, but I think this is helpful no matter where you fall on the panster-plotter spectrum.

To make the most from this weekend, I have thought about scenes in the next couple of chapters. However, I've already written much of it (over this past weekend) so I need to be sure to think of several more scenes before Thursday. That way I can just sit down to write and I don't spend the whole weekend looking out the window to the ocean and thinking about my characters, which I could just as easily do while unpacking my apartment.

3) Bring necessary tools. A laptop is a must for most of us, for you longhanders - don't forget paper and writing utensils. Personally, I think it would be fun to write a book with a quill! Don't forget your charger, backup battery, whatever you need. If you need music to write - bring your headphones! I definitely need to write to music, silence pulls me out of the work and I start thinking too much. Or maybe bring earplugs if you need silence.

What tips do you have for a successful writing retreat? I know we're all busy and these weekends are to be cherished because they are few and far between!

SATURDAY CHECK IN

Current Project: none
Status: out of work

Well, this is odd. I wrote this blog and posted it and I don't know where it went.

Anyway, hopefully this one makes it to the right place. My book is gone. Heard from my editor; the book arrived in NY on Friday. This leaves me free to plot and plan my option book and a second book as well. I've been feeling poorly since the book left, however, so have done very little but lay around and do nothing. It's so weird not to have a deadline hanging over my head.

How are you doing?

My apologies if this blog (or something much like it) shows up twice.

The Virtual Water Cooler

Current Project: Mystic Taxi
Status: Page 357

If any of you have ever worked in an office, or at least had co-workers sharing space, you know what it's like. You're never alone, there's always someone to talk to, you overhear gossip, you sometimes slip out for lunch together. Your work mates are your community. Well, I miss that.

So to make up for the lack of chumming around with work buddies, I play with my online writing pals online. And you know what? It's better than meeting in-person. There's more of us, that's for sure. Like an entire building's worth. Depending on the kind of virtual water cooler situation you're into, you can even "listen in" on conversations (lurk) as well as have private discussions (PM).

I don't know what I'd do without my online writing communities. I participate in a few, and some can be addictive. The one that sucks me in the most is the Absolute Write Water Cooler Forums. There are 30,000 members, each have varying interests, and you can chat about anything from how to train your puppy to asking for a critique of your query letter. There are even discussions about cooking, politics, screen writing, and every genre of fiction, short and long. It's an awesome place to have stimulating discussions and make long-lasting friendships.

I do have to force myself to stay away sometimes. The urge to communicate with other humans can be compelling. I can talk to my cats and my puppy all day long, but their only way to talk back is meows and barks. I need feedback, support and encouragement now and then. Online gatherings are almost as good as getting together face to face. Only I don't have to change out of my sweats or put make up on. That's awesome!

Besides this blog and the RWA loops, how else do you converse with other writers? If you don't work during the day, do you ever feel the need for adult human companionship?

Bookmark This

Current Project: The Sandy Contest Entries
Status: DONE!

February is kicking my behind 28 ways to March, and I'm still bummed from missing RWA last night, and yet, I feel more like a writer than I have in a year and half. Perhaps I'm buoyed by my contest final, or perhaps it's a new idea I have that has me super excited, or perhaps it's just seeing what all of you amazing ladies have happening. I've been making a big effort to stay more connected to the writing community (sadly, this has not resulted in my commenting more, but I am reading!).

I find that when I check in with Smart Bitches, Running With Quills, Argh Ink(Jennifer Crusie's blog), and Romancing the Blog, my brain switches into "writer mode." And I love it when I discover a new blog like my latest find, Courtney Milan, whose series on Copyright Law is one of the most engaging writer-law pieces I've seen in a while.

Which writer blogs are your daily reads? Anyone new on your list? Any undiscovered treasure on your list? Share!

Sailing to Tauranga...

Current Project: Pre-writing work on new story
Status: I've got the main characters, but that's about it so far...

G'day from New Zealand! I'm afraid I got the timezones a little screwed up, but I'm pretty sure it's still Tuesday in the States. I'll try to give you all a flavor of what I've seen so far. First of all, I have to say that the people from Australia and New Zealand have been among the friendliest I've ever met. I'd love to come back and stay longer.

We flew into Sydney a day early and wandered around the city. The harbor is immense and that made it all the more impressive to see our ship anchored off shore (other cruise ships were docked at the piers, so we had to tender to our ship). We're sailing on the Rhapsody of the Seas. She isn't the largest ship around, but she's one of the prettiest (I think).

I've posted about our day in Sydney on my personal blog, so I'll talk about New Zealand here. We were two days sailing on the Tasman Sea from Sydney. We had unexpectedly rough seas and several people, including the crew were seasick. I had a couple of hours where I was queasy, but after that I was fine. We've sailed rougher seas, but not where it lasted quite so long or without a storm.

Our first port was Dunedin and we arrived just as the sun was rising. We took a shuttle from our dock at Port Chalmers into town and wandered around on our own for several hours. Dunedin has been described as New Zealand's Scottish city (one of the founders was Robert Burns' brother) and it's a quaint mixture of old and new architecture. The most beautiful building--and the second most photographed structure in the southern hemisphere after Sydney's opera house--is the Dunedin Train Station (see picture). The exterior is impressive, as is the tile work on the inside.

We toured the Cadbury factory and bought far too much chocolate. I blame it all on climbing one of the silos to watch the five story chocolate waterfall--the sight and aroma of all that chocolate shortcircuited my brain. :-) I have to mention the Settlers' Museum. It was free and very interesting. The museum was well worth the visit and we made sure to leave a donation on our way out.

Our next port was Christchurch. Unfortunately, the day was cold and we even got a bit of rain later in the afternoon. Our ship docked at the port of Lyttleton. The country surrounding the bay reminds me of the rest of the south island that we've seen so far -- green hills and cliffs. The first thing that you notice is a large stone building standing on the hill above the port. It has a tower with a large pole on the top and a huge ball at the bottom of the pole. It's one of only three remaining "ball towers" that still work in the world. The ball is raised on the pole and at precisely 1:00pm every day, it's lowered so that ships in the harbor can set their clocks.

If Dunedin is New Zealand's Scottish city, Christchurch is their English city. It used to be called the most English City outside of England and the names the settlers chose reinforced that--Canterbury Plain, Avon River, Canterbury University. Christchurch is also where Scott set out for the South Pole (the picture is a statue of him that his wife commissioned).

The Avon river runs through Christchurch. You can hire a canoe or a punt and float down the river past the botantical gardens. The gardens are beautiful, but even more impressive is the Canterbury Museum. Again, free entry and fascinating exhibits. Of the museums we've visited so far, this is our favorite.

Yesterday we docked in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. This city, situated on hills, really reminded us of a combination of San Francisco and the Berkeley hills. We took a bus tour of the city and stopped at the top of Lambdon Quay, which overlooks the city and is the top of the botanical gardens. The picture is of a single tree that's been shaped in the form of a cylinder. On one side, set into the branches, is a visitor's kiosk. From there, our bus took us to the rose garden at the foot of the botantical gardens. The roses are lovely, but what was really amazing were the begonias in the Begonia House. I had no idea they could grow that large!

Today we're cruising along the coast and around Volcanic White Island. It's nice to have a break from going ashore. It may not seem like it, with only three ports so far, but it's tiring to be in port after port. You tend to spend as much time ashore doing things as you can and that makes for very full days. Tomorrow we'll be in Tauranga, after that is Auckland and then Bay of Islands. Then we have two days at sea as we return to Sydney. It's all going far too quickly. New Zealand is everything I'd hoped it would be and more. :-)

I have managed to write a little, though not each day. I've been thinking about my characters and a little about the plot. But mostly, I've been letting myself be inspired by the magnificent scenery and real characters I've been meeting along the way. New Zealand will definitely play some part in the novel that's forming in my head.

That's it for now. I'll try to answer your comments in the next day or so.

Aged to Romantic Perfection

Current Project: Doctor in Petticoats
Status: 6000 words


This weekend was supposed to be a “me” weekend. My dh made plans to go on a road trip with a friend. Well, due to the weather they didn’t go. When I found out, I told my dh I was still watching my movies. He said no problem.

I popped the first one in Friday night. The dh sat in his chair reading the Capital Press, an ag newspaper. The movie was “Pride and Prejudice” with Keira Knightley. I’d tried to watch it when my oldest daughter was here, but this is a movie with dialogue that needs to be heard and with grandkids making noise and playing I felt lost. When the dh started to talk to me, I said, “You’re not here.” He laughed and went back to reading his paper. Then slowly the paper lowered, inch by inch until it sat in his lap, and he was watching the movie as intently as I was.
When I paused the movie to go to the bathroom he said, “Boy, I’m glad you have to go, too”. The end result being, he was as engrossed in the movie as I was.

Afterwards, I asked him if he liked the movie. His response. “I had to see if she got the guy or not.” LOL It’s funny but I’ve noticed over the years, his taste in movies has slowly turned from violence and car chases to my kind of movies. So in his aging he has become more of a romantic and less the guy out to prove he is macho. Which is fine by me. He even opens a door once in a while which he NEVER would have done if his friends were around in the first ten years of our marriage. It would have made him look pussy whipped to his friends. But now he goes out of his way to do gestures like that whether his friends are around or not. He’s outgrown the peer pressure and the need to prove he’s a chest beating, virile man all the time.

I think this is what younger women find attractive in older men- they (the older men) are comfortable with who they are and don’t need to prove their worth all the time. They are attentive and young women find that romantic. I know if someone told me thirty years ago when I married my dh that he would appreciate romantic movies and get more excited over our son finding a girlfriend than me, I’d have laughed at them.

Has anyone else noticed this about their spouse or maybe father or grandfather? Do most males tend to get more romantic as they get older? Or is my dh an anomaly?

SATURDAY CHECK-IN

Current Project: AGENT DADDY
Status: Page. 273

Happy Valentine's Day! Before you set forth to celebrate this day of hearts, I hope you take a second to check in and tell us how you're doing. I'm hoping Debbie might tear herself away from the fiords or palm trees, whichever she's gazing at from the deck of her gallant ship, and say hi although I don't know about the time difference. Maybe Saturday is tomorrow where she is. Maybe it was yesterday. I simply don't know.

Leonardo da Vinci said: "Art is never finished, only abandoned." Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing myself to this master in any way, but in as what you and I do is take something inside of ourselves and translate it into something else which we then display on the outside, it's art. And this quote hits very close to home right now as I wrap up this book and get ready to send it. It isn't finished. Not just in that it needs a suitable ending, etc... but in that I could tinker on it forever.

The other thing that always makes me smile as I get to this point in a book is how meaningless all the page angsting was. As it is, I'm going to run long and will have to go back and cut pages -- this happens every time -- and yet I dutifully count pages as I write, fuss about where I am in the story, and worry a lot. I have no learning curve except that I have accepted I have no learning curve.

So, next Saturday, there will be no Agent Daddy living at my house (The book is due tomorrow but my editor kindly gave me a few days to edit, etc... thank goodness I do this as I go, too, because there's no way I could finish it otherwise.) I will be happy to see the end of a long project but a little empty for awhile.

How are you doing? Any romantic plans for the day?

Life Stranger Than Fiction

Current Project: Lost Proposal
Status: Chapter Two

I had a whole blog scheduled about promotion, but I've ditched it in favor of a good Friday morning rant after watching the news. Below you'll find a clip that was aired on the Today Show this morning. It's Drew Peterson - the notorious, head-line grabbing former police sergeant from Bollingbrook, IL, who is currently under investigation for the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, and under suspicion in the forced drowning death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. In the video, he's talking out with his current fiance, Christina Raines. Take a look:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Okay, my first reaction to seeing this clip is..."OMG. I could not WRITE this scenario and make it believable." If I were to put together a book proposal with this girl as the heroine, my agent would laugh and say, "That girl is too stupid to live. No way will anyone EVER believe this story." And yet this is real life.

Raines is a 24 yr old mother of two. She's currently living with Peterson, in the same house he shared with his fourth wife, and pictures of Stacy Peterson are still all over the house. Raines said in the interview:

“[Drew] has a good heart. [He’s] very caring and I don’t think he will ever hurt me or anyone else.”

And when asked what she would tell people if Peterson is eventually found guilty for the disappearance of his 4th wife, Stacy, she said:

“That I’m running the other way.” Then laughed and added, “I’m just joking. I just don’t believe them. I don’t believe them. I don’t believe he’ll hurt anyone. He’s nice.”

(Apparently she doesn't believe Peterson's neighbors, either, who claimed they saw him carrying a 55-gallon barrel out of his home shortly after Stacy's disappearance. Because he's "nice".)

What struck me most about this interview is that this girl is young. She doesn't articulate herself well. She's easily influenced and *appears* to give one word answers, almost as if she's been coached in what not to say to the press. But the other thing that hit me is the way this man has the ability to brainwash young girls. How is that possible? And where are the other people in her life protecting her? Both have claimed the engagement is not for publicity or for money, and if that's the case, I have to agree with what my agent would say if I were to come up with this crazy story on my own...that girl is simply too stupid to live.

I'm going to leave you with the end of the interview because I can't sum it up any better than Peterson did himself:

Raines admitted she doesn’t have anyone in her life who supports her relationship, and when her mother and father decry their daughter’s choice in men, she tells them, “I’m going to be OK. Nothing is going to happen to me.”

Robach asked Raines if her parents believe her assertion. “No,” she replied. And when Robach asked her if she understood why, she replied solemnly, “Yes.”

Christina’s dad Ernie has gone so far as to call Peterson “the devil.” Peterson laughed to Robach and said, “Well, it looks like the devil won this round.”

Feel free to rant away. I'm still having a hard time believing this is reality and not fiction.

INSANITY OR A NATURAL EBB AND FLOW?

Current Project: Promotion for Feb. 27 release of STARS IN YOUR EYES, 

Kick-off promotion for ROGUE'S ANGELS 

and Edits for CHASING RAINBOWS
Status: Changing gears



I find myself in an interesting place with writing. After three releases in eleven months, my next publication date is almost a year away. After the February 27, 2009 release of STARS IN YOUR EYES, I have plans for continued promotion for my first three books as a connected series. I'm so pleased that new ideas for promotion continue to pop into my head, and I also have the print versions of two of these books to look forward to.

In addition, promotion for next year's Valentine's Day anthology from Rogue Phoenix Press will kick off on Valentine's Day THIS year and continue to build until release date. This is an especially exciting project for me because I'll be working with two authors I've known for quite a few years: Christine Young--who is also the owner of Rogue Phoenix Press--and C.L. Kraemer, known to some of you as Chris Kraemer, who will be moving back to Salem after several years out of state. This is the first of a series of projects we have planned as Rogue's Angels.


We've got a fun graphic (attached here) and are launching a new blog at www.roguesangels.blogspot.com. All three stories in this anthology will have "write-in" parts, similar to cameo appearances on TV. These parts were auctioned off at a benefit for the Willamette Humane Society last fall. We'll be tracking the progress of the anthology on the blog as well as introducing the very nice lady who will be featured in the write-in parts. I find it very appropriate that she is a former librarian.

Quite frankly, I'm looking forward to a slower writing pace this coming year so I can catch up with other pieces of my life. As I look at the members of our group, we seem to all have different writing paces.

Alice, please correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like you have been buried with deadlines and multiple releases for a couple years. Eli had a late December/early January release with another in less than a year, then two or three scheduled for 2010. Paty has e-book and print releases every few months but is always working hard on her next work in progress. In addition to launching her own e-publishing company, Christine Young continues to release a book she has written every few months. Chris York always has a project or two or three in the works.

Others, like Karen, are working with an agent to make the switch from e-books to a New York publishing house. Still others in our group have slowed their writing while they take time to be a mom or take care of family business or work full-time or tend to any number of other obligations. After a slower year in 2009, I want to concentrate on finishing all the books in my nine-book series in 2010 and 2011 so they can be released fairly close together. Hmm...a year or two of insanity, then a rest to deal with more insanity. Or just the natural ebb and flow of writing and publishing?

How about you? What's your ideal release schedule? One, two, three or more books a year? A lot of books for a year or two and then a break? If you're not yet published, what do you think would be an ideal release schedule and why?

GRAMMY THOUGHTS

Current Project:Agent Daddy
Status: Pg. 256

Did anyone else watch the Grammy Awards a few nights ago? What struck me was the variety of the performers and their songs as reflected by the different awards. Keep in mind there are up to a half dozen of sub categories under each general heading:
* POP FIELD
* DANCE FIELD
* ROCK FIELD
* ALTERNATIVE FIELD
* R&B FIELD
* RAP FIELD
* COUNTRY FIELD
* NEW AGE FIELD
* JAZZ FIELD
* GOSPEL FIELD
* LATIN FIELD
* BLUES FIELD
* FOLK FIELD
* REGGAE FIELD
* WORLD MUSIC FIELD
* POLKA FIELD
* CHILDREN’S FIELD
* SPOKEN WORD FIELD
* COMEDY FIELD
* MUSICAL SHOW FIELD
* FILM, TELEVISION AND OTHER VISUAL MEDIA FIELD
* CLASSICAL FIELD
* MUSIC VIDEO FIELD
* GENERAL FIELD

As we all know, each of those songs had to be written. Someone heard the first beat in their head, felt the rhythm, created the lyrics and in many cases, found an artist (or several) who could interpret the finished product. Many songs could no doubt claim dozens of individuals who had a hand in the final product. But it was the singer, the orchestra, the band, the performers, who became the public face of the music. (Consider the recent dust up over “At Last” made famous by Etta James and sung at one of the Inaugural Balls by Beyonce Knowles. Ms. James has been vocal in “wishing” she had been asked to sing the song. It took me a few minutes to track down the songwriter. Glen Miller. Who knew?)

Where was I? Oh, yeah, the thing that struck me was how diverse the music was. I closed my eyes and tried to picture Lil Wayne taking the place of Robert Plant in the duo Plant sang with Alison Krauss. Nope. Okay, how about the Jonas Brothers doing Radiohead? And can you see Neil Diamond and Jay-Z fighting over new material? Now I flashed to “American Idol” (which I have freely admitted I watch) and to the comment I’ve heard a judge say more than once, “It wasn’t the right song for you. You have to pick the sings that highlight your voice.”

Voice. That illusive commodity every good writer has and every struggling writer is trying to find (and this has nothing to do with your published/pre-published status.) And I think it occurred to me then that VOICE can have as much with WHAT you choose to say as with HOW you choose to say it.

One more point and then I’ll get back to writing my book and it’s this: There’s room for everyone at the table, be the main course music or books. There was another dust up on the unwieldy PAN link recently that had to do with some Rita judges and how uncomfortable they were reading erotic books. Reason seems to say you would not check the box marked erotica if you didn’t want to read erotica, and that if a book fell into your hands anyway you would either read it and judge it for the story and the writing or send it back immediately. I didn’t understand or admire the whining and hand wringing and subtle superiority (I don’t read that kind of trash!) mentality that permeated some of the comments.

I mean, if a wrapper and an opera singer can share the same profession, surely there is room for all writers to show respect to one another. And if this blog leaves you scratching your head wondering what in the world any of it meant, oops, blame it on my deadline, that’s what I plan to do.

Just Words

Current Project: STRONGER THAN BONE
Status: Queries

I was having a conversation with a co-worker last week about dental jargon. In every profession there is vocabulary specific to that profession that leaves the general public in the dark. Remembering how overwhelmed I was when I delved into this new field, I try to use everyday language while talking with my patients. Many times I've pulled aside a co-worker and whisper "That patient doesn't know what the f%#k you're talking about! Use normal words!"

Sometimes this clicks with co-workers; sometimes it doesn't. I don't believe the patients need to learn our jargon. Other dental professionals believe we need to teach our patients our jargon. I disagree. We see most patients twice a year. They don't need a new set of vocab words for those two days. I agree the patient needs to be educated about their condition, but that doesn't mean they need a vocab list with definitions. I can't count the times I've listened to a patient discuss their treatment with my boss and then turn to me after he leaves the room and ask "What did he say?"

Here are some common dental terms that can be easily replaced with one or two words that would make sense to a layperson. Do you know these words as they apply to dentristy? Have a general idea? Or wonder what the f%#k your dentist is talking about?

1. mesial
2. distal
3. composite
4. amalgam
5. alloy
6. perio or periodontal
7. caries
8. build-up
9. EOB
10. buccal
11. lingual
12. vestibule
13. periapical

14. diastema

Let me know which terms you would understand if a dentist used them while discussing your teeth. I'll share the results at my next staff meeting to hammer down my point on jargon. I'll post the more common terms a little later.