Elizabeth Delisi's Blog, page 11

G is for Genre

Today's letter is G, and while there are several things that G could stand for, I'm going to use today to talk about genre.

Genre is, basically, the type of story that you're writing: romance, mystery, western, action, etc. 

You'll need to know what genre you're writing in, so you can properly market your book to its most enthusiastic readers. More and more books lately include a mixture of genres, such as romantic mysteries or paranormal westerns. These are tricky. If you do it right, you can attract readers from both of the genres. But if you do it wrong, you could alienate readers from both genres so neither one wants to read your book.

Today's tarot deck is the Victorian Fairy Tarot. Here are a couple of sample cards from the deck:


Images courtesy of Aeclectic Tarothttp://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/victorian-fairy/
The card I drew today is the Herald of Spring. It shows a male fairy dressed in green, dancing among the bright green foliage and spring flowers. Clearly he's celebrating the coming of spring, when all the earth wakes up and blooms. This card is telling me my main character, the woman who's a real estate agent in the A is for Action segment, is playful, enthusiastic, and lighthearted. She welcomes everyone, and has an active, childlike curiosity about everything. This leads me to believe the genre of the book will be something light. It feels like a romantic comedy to me, so that's what I'll go with.

F is for Free Writing

Have any of you tried "free writing" when you get stuck in your story? It can be a useful technique.

In free writing, you start writing/typing and continue for a set period of time, usually five to ten minutes. Start a timer, then begin writing whatever comes into your head with no regard for spelling, punctuation, cohesiveness, etc. If your thoughts are jumbled, write them down anyway. If all you can think of to say is, "I can't think of anything to say," write it over and over until something else appears.

When the time is up, stop writing. Read over what you wrote, jotting notes about anything promising. If nothing useful appears, try again after a break.

I'm interested to see what tarot cards have to say about free writing. Today's deck is the Connolly Tarot. Here are a couple of sample cards:

 
 Images courtesy of Aeclectic Tarot http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/connolly/
Today I drew the Three of Wands in answer to my request for more information about free writing. This card feels like it's telling me a partnership would make this idea work the best. Perhaps you and your critique partner can do free writing together. You could each work on ideas for your own manuscripts, or if you feel comfortable enough, you could both work on the same story; first one person's tale, then the other. Cooperation is the best route to go!

E is for Edit

Today's topic is E for Edit. Editing your work is absolutely vital, and can come in several varieties. First is the self-editing/revising you do on your own manuscript. You may have trouble switching from creative mode to practical editing mode. But the more you do it, the better you'll get.

Second is the editing suggestions you receive from a critique partner(s). You may not agree with every suggestion, but it's to your benefit to consider each suggestion objectively. Your book has to resonate with readers, and critique partners are just that: readers. With specialized skills, true; but readers nonetheless.

Third is the editing you'll receive from your publisher in the form of comments from your editor, and eventually of a galley. You may not get the last word with this type of editing, but remember your publisher wants your book to sell...they're not against you.

Today's deck is The Tarot of Oz. Here are a couple of sample cards:

 
Images courtesy of Aeclectic Tarothttp://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/oz/
The card I drew today is the Eight of Cups. It shows a young woman standing in a doorway, surrounded by cups. This card indicates a need to allow a conclusion to take place. You can edit and edit and edit, and *never* feel it's done. But at a certain point you have to say, "It's finished," and stop compulsively going over and over it. Though it feels like a sacrifice to allow your story to be finished, and indeed you may feel a keen sense of loss when the final editing is over, you have to let go. Let your story find its wings in the hands of your readers.

D is for Description

Description is a vital part of writing. It's also the most likely place to lose your readers, if you drone on with multiple paragraphs of dry description. I've put down books myself for many reasons, but the most common one seems to be too much description, not enough action.

How then do you get the balance just right...not enough description to put the reader to sleep, but not too little description so your reader says, "Huh?"

Today's deck is the Silver Witchcraft Tarot. Here are a couple of sample cards from the deck:

Images courtesy of Aeclectic Tarot http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/silver-witchcraft-tarot/
The card I drew is the Ace of Chalices. It shows a night scene with a large silver chalice pouring out water into a lake, the full moon hanging overhead. I interpret this to mean, your imagination is like the full chalice--you have an infinite number of descriptive words and phrases at your command. The full moon also reiterates how many options you have. But you don't have to empty your imagination each time you need to describe something. Like the moon changes phases from full to half to crescent to none, your descriptions should be similarly varied. Sometimes you want a leisurely, length description to set the tone. But other times, less is definitely more. Picture the chalice pouring out description...how much is just right?

C is for Critique Partner

C is definitely for Critique Partner. How many writers have one or more critique partners? Show of hands!

A critique partner is another writer whose skills you respect. You go over each other's work, showing where corrections are needed and giving suggestions to make things work better. This means you'll be getting and giving suggestions for everything from misspelled words or faulty punctuation, to plot holes or point of view lapses.

The right critique partner can be invaluable. It should be someone you can trust, someone you can be comfortably honest with. You and your partner need to complement each other, not rub each other the wrong way. A writer may be brilliant at written prose, but if s/he is rude or dictatorial, or if s/he rejects all your suggestions outright, it's not the right partner for you.

I'm interested to see what the tarot will say about the ideal critique partner. Today's deck is the Robin Wood tarot. Here are a couple of sample cards from the deck:
 
 Images courtesy of Aeclectic Tarot http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/robin-wood/

The card I drew is The Hanged Man. It shows a young blond man hanging from a tree limb by one leg/knee. Yes, that means he's hanging upside down, but he is not BEING hanged. It's more of a gym-class position. ;-)
This card indicates the ideal critique partner is someone who will drop everything when you need help. S/he is willing to change viewpoints on your work or theirs if given enough proof. They shouldn't be afraid to change positions when appropriate. Wisdom is indicated, someone who seeks out the truth of any situation.Willingness to change, to take constructive suggestions gracefully, is vital. 
I hope this helps you find YOUR ideal critique partner!

B is for Beginning

Perhaps the most important part of your book is the beginning. Often a potential reader will open your book to the first chapter, read a few paragraphs, and then decide whether to purchase it or put it back. Thus, it's vital that you grab the reader's attention in those first few paragraphs, and hold it.

Today's tarot deck is the Quest Tarot. Here are a couple of sample cards from the deck:

 
Images courtesy of Aeclectic Tarothttp://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/...
The card I drew is the Son of Wands, or "Charisma." This is a positive card, but on the edge of negativity. It shows a golden figure with joyously upraised arms, surrounded by butterflies. This figure has endless energy and is always looking for adventure. A journey may occur in the near future. The character may seem full of joy, but it's a frenetic kind of emotion, unpredictable. Makes decisions quickly and acts on them immediately without looking back.
 For some reason, I get the feeling this card applies to the villain in the story. This person will be introduced, perhaps in a prologue. No name will be given, but the reader will see the joy-turns-to-mania happen before her eyes. And woe to anyone who crosses the villain's path during one of those spells!
Monday is C. We'll see what comes next!

A is for Action

Day 1 of the A-Z challenge! I'm getting a late start, but as time passes I'm sure it will get easier.

Due to the alphabetical nature of the challenge, the tarot cards I draw each day will not necessarily come in a logical order. Today, I'm pulling a card for ACTION. Every story needs action; i.e., something has to happen. Too much description, too much dialogue, too much setting, along with not enough action, will make your story dull and draggy.

During this month, I will try to pull each day's card and number into a plan for a book. We'll see if the cards cooperate!

Today I'm using the Fairy Tarot Cards. Here's a couple of sample images of the deck:






 
 
Images courtesy of Aeclectic Tarothttp://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/...
 The card I drew for "Action" is the Ace of Autumn. Good place to start; it shows a happy little fairy surrounded by stacks of books. She's clearly enjoying herself. But what could this mean for action?
This card indicates a windfall of some sort. Could be financial in nature, but could also stand for good advice, some type of physical assistance, or having the ear of influential people. 
The Ace of Autumn tells you to use your windfall wisely. Make a plan with long-term goals so you have something to strive for.
Interestingly enough, this card can also indicate a profitable investment in real estate. So that's the "action" I'm going to choose. The main character is taking clients around to look at houses available in their price range. Don't know yet if the main character is male or female, though I'm leaning toward female.
Off to a good start! Tomorrow is B...hmm. What will appear for B?

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: Theme Reveal Day!

I'm participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge again this April. What does this mean? It means I will post a blog entry every day in April (except Sundays). The blog entries will match the letter of the alphabet for that day. Thus, Friday, April 1 will have a post topic beginning with "A," Saturday, April 2 will have a post topic beginning with "B," etc.

Many of the participants in this event reveal their theme for the month today, March 31. So, I'll play! My theme is: (drum roll)

How Tarot Can Help You Write

So each day, I'll choose a tarot card at random and let you know how that card can assist your writing...using the appropriate alphabet letter for each day's entry.

I might be setting myself up for a fall...sounds complex to me! But I'm going to give it a shot. Hope you'll pop in come April and see how I do.

Guest Blogger Kathleen Rowland

Help me welcome my guest blogger, Kathleen Rowland, author of the romantic suspense, Deadly Alliance. Below you'll find a blurb, interview questions for the hero and heroine, buy link, a bio with links, and a short excerpt. Enjoy!
[image error]  Blurb:
Finbar Donahue, former Army Ranger, walked on the wild side in Iraq, but now he lives in the shadows. After his evasive partner, Les, was shot in a random drive-by, Finn discovers cash is siphoned monthly. He fights to keep his investment company afloat. When the late partner’s girlfriend, Amy Kintyre, applies for his bookkeeping job, Finn suspects she knows about his company drain and hires her.

Amy needs a nine-to-five with free evenings and weekends to get her fashion design business back on track. She unearths Les’ s secret bank account and alerts Finn. Freezing of the money laundering account sets off havoc within an Irish gang. Amy witnesses a gang fight between a brutal ISIS fundraising organization and the Irish. Desperate to escape a stalker’s crosshairs, she seeks refuge with Finn. As danger heats up, sparks fly hotter.

Let’s interview the hero of Deadly Alliance,  Finbar Donahue. 1. Nickname:  Finn. My full name is Finbar Michael Donahue.2. Job: I own my own investment company, but who’s the chickenshit stealing money from me?  My goal is to find the thief.3. Level of schooling:  B.A. in finance, former Army Ranger. That was when I targeted a known enemy.  Believe me, it’s harder now.
I’ve got a few questions for the heroine, Amy Kintyre.1.      What’s your dream job? I want to get my sportswear design business back on track.  A buyer phoned me, and I have an opportunity to present my line.  I need a nine-to-five with evenings and weekends off to sew.  2.      Is that why you applied for Finbar Donahue’s bookkeeping job?  Yes.  Probably is that I found a mysterious bank account belonging to my late boyfriend, Les.  He and Finn were partners.3.      Would you enjoy working for Finn?  No, but there aren’t many job openings in Lake Arrowhead.
Bye Link: http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Alliance...    [image error]  Bio and Author Links—Kathleen Rowland Book Buyers Best finalist Kathleen Rowland is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes suspense with a sizzling love story sure to melt their hearts.  Kathleen used to write computer programs but now writes novels.   She grew up in Iowa where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and raced her sailboat on Lake Okoboji.  Now she wears flip-flops and sails with her husband, Gerry, on Newport Harbor but wishes there were lightning bugs in California.Kathleen exists happily with her witty CPA husband, Gerry, in their 70’s poolside retreat in Southern California where she adores time spent with visiting grandchildren, dogs, one bunny, and noisy neighbors.  While proud of their five children who’ve flown the coop, she appreciates the luxury of time to write while listening to demanding character voices in her head.http://www.kathleenrowland.com/https://twitter.com/rowlandkathleenhttps://kathleenrowland.wordpress.com/https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.row...
Excerpt— Amy’s first day working for Finn
Hours later, Finn straightened his spine as he listened to his new bookkeeper order Rosenberg around with the authority of an Army lieutenant. She spoke with confidence from her chair and waited for answers with intensity. Somehow she came across larger than her delicate self.“Brad,” his pretty war buddy said, “I’ll need your password to access activity-to-date.” Her attitude wasn’t for show. Her curiosity propelled her to the depths of the drain. Heaven help those who lurked there.“Sure thing.” Brad blew out a breath and scribbled his password on a sticky note. Handing it to her, he bent to her level.She said, “I apologize for causing chaos.”“No apology necessary.” Brad asked, “What are you working on?”Jumping in, Finn said, “Comparisons, Rosenberg, that’s what she’s working on.” Unholy as she’d undoubtedly turn out to be, at the moment they were forged in combat. “Give her your full support.”“Absolutely. Consider me your scaffold,” Rosenberg said, accepting his fate. “Excuse me, won’t you? I’m running payroll.”Finn liked his head accountant. He was solid. Dependable. Not creative, but his easy-going manner was soothing. “Payroll. You’re a masochist.”Amy smiled, and her crystal-green gaze sought his. She found his comment amusing. Her professional attire included a gray satin blouse tucked into a herringbone skirt. When she moved, her layered, dark-blonde hair settled into a sleek flip over her shoulders. Amy’s bending and reaching, as she took control of her four-by-four cubicle, was damn compelling. She found a rhythm with a handy notepad beside her computer. Using Brad’s password, she turned sideways to open files. Attractive summed up her symmetrical profile and creamy complexion.For a long while, getting hot and heavy had not been on his mind. Her envelope gave him concrete evidence to bring to the sheriff and eased his tension. As she brushed tresses off her face, he wanted to nibble on her ear.Amy packed her lithe frame with succulent curves. He enjoyed observing her ample bust which required high-performance support. He’d like to see those globes running free. He’d never considered her as dating material. Timing was off. When she started dating Les, he was hooking up with Miss California. Now it was too late. She worked for him. Hands off. Finn liked women—lots of women, all women, in all shapes and sizes and ethnicities as long as they met the enthusiasm requirement. He hadn’t tested this, but she was off-limits for another reason. He didn’t intend to put her through another relationship leading to nowhere.Finn kept things loose. A woman in his bed but not in his life was what he often said. There hadn’t been that either.  Why was he picturing her naked in his bed?

Thanks

I'd like to thank my three guest bloggers, Kristi Ahlers, Troy Lambert, and Erika Gardner, for participating in the celebration of the 4th anniversary of Tirgearr Publishing. I hope you all snapped up their books at the sale price of 99 cents!

Again, here are their Tirgearr books:

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Ahlers_Kristi/index.htm

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Lambert_Troy/index.htm

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gardner_Erika/index.htm

And here are mine:

http://tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Delisi_Elizabeth/index.htm#

Thanks for reading!