Christine Amsden's Blog: Christine Amsden Author Blog, page 55

Tips for Writers: Environmental Magic

Us writers can learn a lot from Pavlov and his dog. That our bodies respond to familiar stimuli is a well-known and well-researched fact, and we can see it in our lives in many subtle ways. The most basic are the cues for mealtimes. Like the bell that made Pavlov's dog salivate, we will find ourselves responding to enticing aromas, sounds (the lunch bell at school, the oven timer), the sight of the kitchen, or a restaurant, and even the time of day.

Similarly, our environment can prepare us for a variety of activitiies. I, for one, have an internal alarm clock that wakes me at around seven o'clock every morning. The smell of coffee starts to wake up millions of people every morning, and the taste cements the deal. Caffeine may have a stimulating effect on our bodies, but decaf works just as well for many people. Why? We've been conditioned that way.

The drive to work can prepare you for your job. Or perhaps you have a routine when you arrive. These things get you in the right mood. The frame of mind you need to perform your job every day, even if maybe you don't really want to.

Creating a writing environment can be difficult for many people, because writing is something they have to do around their everyday activities, when they have time. They may have to write amidst distractions, late at night, or on the weekends. As with anything, the more regularly you do something, the easier it becomes to make it a part of your routine. If you get up an hour early to write everyday, everything about that early morning session will help put you in writing mode — the time of day, the desk you use, the walk from your bed to your study (or wherever).

In fact, if it is possible, I highly recommend setting a time every day to be your writing time, even if it is only thirty minutes. If you stay consistent, sooner or later you will find yourself falling into the process more easily, at least on a typical day.

If that is impossible (or even if it is possible), there are other things you can do to cue your mind and body that it's time to write. One of the most powerful things is to have a special place that you use only for writing. Perhaps you write in the living room, on your laptop, which makes it difficult to separate writing time from TV time. In that case, the living room won't be a part of your writing environment. I generally recommend not using your living room to write for the same reason experts recommend insomniacs not do anything in their beds except sleep — no reading, no TV, etc. They want bed to mean nothing but sleep. If there is a special place in your house that you write, and only write, then that place will stimulate writing. If you can't find a place in your house, then think outside the box a little. Is there a coffee shop down the street? A library?

Finally, and especially if you can't find a consistent time or place to write, I recommend coming up with a routine. I have a routine I use to set my mind, one that takes advantage of sensory input from each of the five senses:

1. I light a scented candle (visual and olfactory)

2. I suck on a hard mint (taste and tactile)

3. I turn on some background music (auditory)

This is my routine, and it works for me. It is not a script or even a recommendation, simply an example. Who are you? What do you like? Some writers needs absolute quiet, others listen to a specific type of music. Perhaps making a cup of tea would help you, the process of heating the water and adding the tea bag becoming a soothing, almost meditative ritual. You could even meditate. (I do this when my mind is particularly full, and I am having trouble focusing.)

The key to using these things in order to improve your writing focus is to be consistent. Whatever you choose, however you do it, is entirely up to you, but if you do it every time you sit down to write, sooner or later that association will become hard-wired. Like the dinner bell.

If you have a writing ritual you like to perform, I'd love for you to share it.

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The Immortality Virus EBOOK Release

The EBOOK version of The Immortality Virus will be coming sooner than expected — this Friday, in fact: April 15, 2011, just in time for my Touch of Fate book giveaway and ebook sale. I'm turning the entire weekend into a release party.

The Immortaity Virus will be available this Friday through Twilight Times Books and OmniLit (I'll post links as soon as it's live). The kindle store should have it a few days later (and again, I'll post the link when it's live). Available formats: pdf, mobi, and epub. (And of course, kindle, when it goes up on amazon.)

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Book Review: The Wild Child

What an unusual story. After reading several books by Mary Jo Putney, I have to say this much: I never know quite what to expect. I'm not in love with her stuff, but I think it might be fun to pick them up, here and again, when I need a change from the same old same old.

The Wild Child is Meriel, a woman who, as a young child, watched her parents and dozens of others burn to death in a terrible raid/fire. Afterward, she was a prisoner in India for over a year. When she returned to England she didn't speak, or even seem particularly present in the world.

Before the tragedy, her marriage was arranged to Kyle, the heir to an earldom, who decides, despite her odd mental state, that she'll suit him just fine. One of her uncles and guardians is in favor of her getting married, worried that without the protection of a husband, she might end up in an institution. But first, the uncle wants Kyle to get to know Meriel, and soon, before her other uncle returns to the country and forbids the match.

Now, Kyle has a problem. His long-time mistress, a woman he loves deeply, is dying, and he wants to return her to her native Spain to die in her homeland. Torn between obligations, he asks his identical twin brother, Dominic, to take his place and court Meriel.

Over the next few weeks, Dominic discovers that there's more to Meriel than the fae creature she appears at first. He begins to draw her out, and he falls in love with her.

I never completely bought into Meriel as a character, but I liked Dominic and Kyle a great deal. In fact, I think my favorite part of the book was the strained relationship between the twins, estranged for years. They each want to heal the rift, but aren't sure how, especially when Dominic begins to contemplate stealing his brother's intended bride.

I also liked the portrayal of the insane asylum, which probably was one of the best of its time, though, of course, it was horrible.

The ending was a bit predictable (and I don't just mean in the HEA sense of things), but I basically enjoyed this book.

I do have to say, though, that like the other books I've read by this author, I missed the spark of chemistry between these two characters. Each had his or her own demons to conquer, and in that respect it was a great dual character story, but the actual romance felt a bit flat.

3.5/5

The Wild Child

Author: Mary Jo Putney

Genre: Romance

ISBN: 0449005844

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Pre-Order The Immortality Virus

The Immortality Virus is now available for pre-order through Barnes and Noble. (The cover art is not currently up at B&N because my publisher and I are consider making changes. I'll keep you posted on that over the next week or so.)

And just in time for pre-orders to start, here is my first full-text review: Books and Things

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Book Review: Catch the Lightning

This is the second book in the Skolian Empire series, and I felt it was an easier book to get into because it was told from the viewpoint of a waitress from 1987. Tina meets future pilot, Althor, when he accidentally finds himself in her time. This story unfolded gradually, as Tina learns about the future and the strange, part computer pilot she meets. And then has to help rescue.

This one was a page turner, with plenty of excitement and a touch of romance. I did struggle with an almost 50-year-old man in a romantic relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Empathic or not, it was uncomfortable to read about. I also found myself not quite understanding the supposedly matriarchal expectations Althor had, which put women in the dominant role in the relationship. Basically, he gave the idea lip service, but in practice, and largely because he was so much older than she was, I didn't feel it.

It is worth noting that this book takes place, chronologically, after every other book in the series. As such, it was a little confusing to keep the dynasties straight, but if you overlook that, it was relatively stand-alone.

Catherine Asaro continues to humanize and romanticize military science fiction in a unique and compelling manner.

3.5/5

Catch The Lightning (The Saga of the Skolian Empire)

Author: Catherine Asaro

Genre: Science Fiction

ISBN: 0812551028

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The Story Behind the Story

This is a collection of inspirational stories by twenty authors, including myself, who reflect upon the ups and downs of writing their first novel. If you're a writer, especially one struggling with your first novel, you should read this. The eBook version is currently free at amazon.

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Touch of Fate Book Giveaway

Title: Touch of Fate Book Giveaway

Location: My blog

Description: April 15-17, as part of the Easter Hoppin' Blog Hop, I will be giving away a free, signed copy of Touch of Fate. Visit my blog on April 15th to enter.

Start Date: 2011-04-15

Start Time: 12:01 a.m.

End Date: 2011-04-17

End Time: 11:59 p.m.

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Tips for Writers: Groupthink

There is a certain comfort in familiarity, a sense of togetherness in a group you've known for years, and an understandable need to belong. Yet for writers, there is a danger in sticking close to one group of peers for too long, a danger I will call groupthink.

Have you ever noticed how groups tend to homogenize after a time? It starts out subtly, with certain in-jokes that consistently make the group laugh, then perhaps it moves on to turns of phrase or ways of talking that the group has in common. Eventually, the group members begin to share many of the same ideas, especially those related to the group's core purpose.

A group of writers is no different. After a time, you may find yourself writing, not for yourself or for the larger public audience, but for this group. You know what they like, and what they dislike. You know what turns of phrase will make them laugh, or cry. You may even know that one member will disagree with something you chose to do, but you're going to do it anyway.

So, here's the question: If you already know what your peers are going to say about your writing, why send it to them for critique? You may as well critique it yourself. Maybe they'll catch typos, but are you looking for an editor, or are you looking for a real chance to take your writing to the next level?

I've heard it said that writing groups shouldn't last any longer than a year, and after that, they've served their purpose. I don't know if that's true or not, but I do know that a writer who wants to become a better writer needs to be constantly on the lookout for fresh sources of inspiration. Sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective, one you haven't considered before, because it's not part of your current groupthink.

It is a common fallacy to believe that all people tend to be like the ones you know. The more you challenge that belief, the more truly yourself you will become, and that will shine through your writing.

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Book Review: Primary Inversion

Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro featured a number of powerful, compelling moments, sandwiched between a few extreme info dumps. If you're willing to read past them to the heart and soul of this story, you will find a treasure there.

To put this in perspective, it has been a long time since I've ventured into space opera, so I might not be remembering genre norms very well, but the first three chapters of this book were really just one long, boring info dump. The problem with this kind of info dump is actually two-fold: First, it was boring to read, and came very close to making me put the book down. The other problem with an info dump like this one is that later in the book, when the information became relevant, I couldn't remember it very well. I'm still not clear on what a Rone is or why it's so rare, or so important for the heir to the throne to be one, or how they've managed to maintain that line given how few of them there are.

This book would have been much, better, I think, if I had been reading it in print, instead of via audio. I could have skimmed the boring bits, and then flipped back for reminders when I needed to know something. I could have skipped some of the longer sections of techno babble altogether, because even though I realize some readers love that stuff — I'm not one of them.

What I'm interested in — what interested me enough that I recommend this book despite the way I just lambasted it — is the human element. Sauscony is a powerful empath, with borderline telepathic abilities. She is also a warrior, with a computer running through her body and brain. She's got issues — a few years earlier, one of the enemies captured and tortured her for three weeks. Apparently, the Traders are some kind of anti-empaths who can't feel pain, and they use empaths for sadistic pleasure. So when she meets the Trader Empire's heir, she's understandably wary.

The book includes Sauscony's personal growth, her problems with relationships, some political intrigue, and a love story, all of which I enjoyed quite a bit. I admit that I was a bit put off by the 25 year difference in ages between the lovers, but the author managed to make it matter less to me than it normally would have, probably because of their shared empathy.

My only other complaint about this book was the use of the first person in a story that I felt had two clear sides. I'm not really sure why it was told that way, since the narrative voice wasn't that strong (it wasn't bad, either — my only real issue with it was that I felt the story was half told). The Trader Empire seems so hopelessly evil to me at this point that I almost have trouble believing it — but I think it's because of the one-sidedness of the story. As much as Sauscony tried to understand some of it when she linked empathically with Jaibriol, it just left too many holes.

I recommend this to science fiction readers with a romantic heart, and I recommend reading it in print, if you can.

3.5/5 stars

Primary Inversion (Saga of the Skolian Empire)

Author: Catherine Asaro

Genre: Science Fiction

ISBN: 0812550234

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Book Review: An Unwilling Bride

I'll give it this much: The premise is unique. Many years ago, The Duchess Belcraven became pregnant with a child who could not possibly have been her husband's. That was bad enough, but to make matters worse, the Duke's two older sons both die in a tragic accident, meaning his heir is not of his own blood. The duke, hurt by the betrayal, has his own affair, but doesn't realize he had a daughter for nearly twenty-five years. When he does, he comes up with a brilliant idea: Lucien can marry his daughter, meaning his grandchildren will be of his own blood, at least.

All right, think about it for a minute. No, it's not incestuous. They're not related. I did have to consider it for a few minutes, though, and to the author's credit, so did the characters involved.

Beth, a schoolmistress, has no desire whatsoever to be a part of this marriage, but the duke threatens the financial ruin of her school if she doesn't comply with his wishes. In a fit of rebellion, she tries to get Lucien to call it off, not realizing he is as powerless as she. So all she accomplishes is creating enmity between them.

I did like the premise, and the characters, and the portrayal of a family suffering from past mistakes. The duke and duchess have a reconciliation subplot that worked very well.

The trouble I had was just an odd lack of chemistry. All the right elements were there, but I didn't feel it. It seemed to me that at some point, Beth suddenly reflected that she was attracted to Lucien, and I had to stop and wonder if she'd mentioned that before. But no, it came a little out of left field, as did their eventual love.

This is one of those books that I'm glad I read, and I recommend to romance readers, but with the noted reservations.

Oh, and I do love the way Jo Beverley weaves historical events and characters into her novels. It adds a certain relevance to the tale.

3.5/5 stars

Title: An Unwilling Bride

Author: Jo Beverley

ISBN: 0821767240

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