K.C. Kendricks's Blog, page 104
April 19, 2012
Q is for Quickie
A to Z Blogging 2012Day 17
April 19, 2012
On Being a Published Writer
Welcome to the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. This year I’m focusing on things I’ve learned, observed and experienced in the nine years I’ve been published. If you’re a reader, I hope to offer an inside glimpse into the writer’s world. If you’re new to writing, I hope I can provide an insight or two. If you’re an established writer, maybe you’ll see similarities to your experience. Whatever path you walk, I welcome you to mine and hope you’ll enjoy the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge.
Ah, the quickie. I’m quite fond of it in real life. Hope that’s not TMI (see the J is for Jargon blog).
In another blog, I mentioned a comment my mother made about a well-known author’s sex scenes. Mother correctly observed that every sex scene this multi-published, best selling author writes is the same. Ooooooookay. I know what you’re saying.
Part A and Part B only fit together in very specific ways.
True. But great sex is rarely about how the parts fit together. Great sex is how the brain perceives it. Great sex is a lot of fun and this is where the quickie fits into the plot.
Here comes another personal story so consider this your TMI alert. Once upon a relationship we used to enjoy hopping in the car and driving around to see the Christmas lights. New housing developments are usually the mother lode for decorations but sometimes true gems are found on lonely country roads. One year we found the classiest Christmas display I’ve ever seen out in the middle of a virtual nowhere.
White lights might be all the rage, but this place was a rhapsody in blue. The ranch-style house was outlined in a single string of the larger bulbs. The driveway and walkways were outlined in single strings of the larger blue bulbs, as was the split rail fence along the edge of the back yard. In the side yard, a trio of pines wore garlands of the same color blue lights. It was understated and, I think, a perfect example of how to light a yard for the season.
My partner leaned over and kissed me and….yep. Right there on the side of the road. The Quickie. I mean - seriously. Would you want to take a lot of time on a COLD winter night? And it was dark, sure, but other cars have headlights! We still tap our coffee mugs together and laugh about it.
The quickie is the fulfillment of a simple urge to mate. To have some fun in the moment. In romance fiction, if it fits your characters and the plot, don’t pass up the chance to let your characters have a little fun with a quickie. It’s a great way to show the daring, playful side of your characters without delving into the deeper emotions of lovemaking, and ramp up the heat level for your readers.
It might not work in every story you write (or read) but when it does, it’ll make you smile.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
April 18, 2012
P is for Promotion
On Being a Published Writer
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A to Z Blogging 2012
Day 16
Today’s blog is short and sweet. I could write paragraph after paragraph but …why? I have one singular point to that I hope you will always remember.
If you don’t promote your book, who will?
This is the bottom line on promotion. If you don’t promote your book, who will? The answer is a big blank page. No one will promote your work the way you will.
Sure, you can pay someone to do the promo. Rates vary as does the quality of the promotion. Be prepared to either track a promo company all over the Internet to find proof of what they’re doing to earn their money, or be prepared to ignore them and hope you’re not getting ripped off.
Don’t get me wrong or credit me with saying something I’m not. There are some good companies out there and if you do your homework, you’ll see which ones they are. Stick with them. Just remember no one will work as hard to promote your book as you will yourself.
Is promotion confusing? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. Too many rules and regulations on everyone’s list/blog/forum? Yes. Even I have posting rules over at Saturday Evening Romance and Saturday Morning Reviews.
Keep at it. You’ll find what works best for you. I once bought book that used three hundreds pages and a lot of words to get one simple point across. It doesn’t matter what you do to promote your book as long as you do something.
And the absolute very best promotion for your current release is something only you can produce - your next release.
Now get busy writing!
KC Kendricks
April 17, 2012
O is for Orgasm
On Being a Published Author
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A to Z Blogging 2012
Day 15
Welcome to the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. This year I’m focusing on things I’ve learned, observed and experienced in the nine years I’ve been published. If you’re a reader, I hope to offer an inside glimpse into the writer’s world. If you’re new to writing, I hope I can provide an insight or two. If you’re an established writer, maybe you’ll see similarities to your experience. Whatever path you walk, I welcome you to mine and hope you’ll enjoy the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge.
No matter what you call it - the Big O, climax, release, to come, to cum, get off - the sexual orgasm is an essential part of erotic romance. It doesn’t matter if you write straight het, man-on-man, or for the ladies, the orgasm matters.
We all like the romance, the building of the relationship. We root for the two (and sometimes three) main characters to find each other, and common ground. And we want them to experience the unique bonding of the sexual orgasm.
There are as many schools of thought about how the climax should be handled as there are readers. As a writer, how do we please them all? The short answer is - we shouldn’t even try. Above all else a writer has to be true to their own voice and characters.
When I first started to write, I bought a book by a very well known romance writer. As in very well known. I read it, then passed it on to my mother for her opinion. What I got was a comment I’ll never forget.
“I guess it was a good enough story, but this woman only knows one way to have sex and it’s boring.”
Yes, girls and boys, that was my Mommy’s comment. It set me back on my heels a bit, coming from her, but I got over it. Mostly. (Yes, it made me think things about my mother best unthought.) The thing is, she was absolutely correct. I reread the book and every sex scene was exactly the same, and Mother wasn’t talking about Part Boy fitting into Part Girl. She referred to the emotional intensity, or lack thereof, of the orgasm.
Is every time you have sex the same? No. At least for your sake I hope not. We make love slowly, or we have quickies. We’re full of energy, or not. We orgasm multiple times, or not at all. We do a little oral, or a lot, or not. We may like toys, or visual aids. We may be in the mood to go to bed early, and alone, for some private time.
It doesn’t matter which scenario we choose as long as we tap into the emotions present when the sex act happens. It’s that balance of feeling and action that most readers like and keeps them reading.
Is it easy? No, but no one said pulling pure thought from the air and turning it into a romance novel would be easy. Taking it one step deeper into erotic romance is even harder. But the best things never come easy.
No pun intended.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
Coming tomorrow - P is for Promotion.
April 16, 2012
N is for the Next Project
On Being a Published Writer
April 16, 2012
A to Z Blogging 2012
Day 14When I finished my very first story, I wondered if I could write another one. What if I was a one-book-wonder? How did other writers keep coming up with ideas for the next project? I really did worry and it was a waste of energy.
Every story starts differently. Some begin with a tiny seed, a single word. Some arrive complete and it’s a rush to get everything down on the page before it flees the feeble human brain. I never knew I had so many stories inside!
The longer I’m at this craft, the easier it is to develop the next project. I believe it’s a matter of building on the successes and not anything magical. It becomes a way of thinking.
In the beginning, you search for the seed. Once you find it, you plant it and nurture it. After a while, you recognize a worthwhile seed without the search, and you learn the best way to grow it is to leave it alone until the harvest. Yes, it really can be that easy.
But never forget that you are the fertile soil the story must grow in. Spend more time expanding your knowledge and abilities and less time going crazy because your plot doesn’t fall into the perfect W-plot or plot worksheet. Be glad it doesn’t! How cookie cutter do you want to be?
Be open to those tiny seeds. They’re all around you. It’s not magic - it’s awareness. Channel it using whatever method works best for you because every next project is your chance to strut your stuff and show the world how good a writer you really are.
KC Kendricks
Tomorrow's blog - O is for Orgasm.
April 14, 2012
M is for Motivation & Multi-tasking
A to Z Blogging 2012
On Being a Published Writer
April 14, 2012
Day 13
It’s the rare author who doesn’t occasionally run out of steam. We’re spouses, partners, parents, children, siblings. We wear a bunch of different hats every day. So how do we stay motivated to sit at the computer and write something every day when the dishes, the laundry, the kids, the job, the significant other, and even the dog, all need our attention?
For me, the first step in answering that question was accepting that some days I couldn’t do everything in my day the way I wanted to do it. Yeah, it was tough. I aspire to be the modern woman but my roots go waaaaay back to Helen Reddy. “I am woman, hear me roar…”
When I was growing up, it was fashionable to be a superwoman. We were told we could have it all, but no one ever told us how exhausting achieving everything can be. I learned to pace myself - until I signed the first contract and became a published author. After that, I did a bit of backsliding. Multi-tasking became a way of life.
But you know what? For me, too much multi-tasking is counterproductive. I get a lot more accomplished when I stop trying to do four things at once and focus on completing one phase of a project at a time. Getting that one thing finished and out of the way is a great motivator, too. I find a peculiar personal satisfaction in knowing I’ve done something well.
I’ve reached the point in my life where I realize that I’m happy with what I’ve done in a day even if it’s not everything on my To Do List. I don’t have to stress over those twelve things undone in my day. The sky won’t fall if I don’t get five hundred words done in an evening when I’ve had to take care of something in my life. I’ll get another crack at my list again tomorrow.
There’s an old saying - “if it is to be it is up to me.” Now here’s the thing. I get to say what “is to be” every day. Most days, it’s all the motivation I need to moving forward.
It’s a good place to be.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
April 12, 2012
K is for Kiss
On Being a Published Writer
A to Z Blogging 2012
April 12, 2012 - Day 11
Welcome to the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. This year I'm focusing on things I've learned, observed and experienced in the nine years I've been published. If you're a reader, I hope to offer an inside glimpse into the writer's world. If you're new to writing, I hope I can provide an insight or two. If you're an established writer, maybe you'll see similarities to your experience. Whatever path you walk, I welcome you to mine and hope you'll enjoy the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge.
"A kiss is just a kiss."
"It's in his kiss."
"Your kiss is on my list."
"I want to kiss you all over…"
It's hard to overstate the importance of mouth-to-mouth kissing in romance fiction. With both participants facing each other in a full frontal embrace, a kiss quite often does what our hero intends it to do. It leads to physical arousal in both participants, no matter of gender.
But how, as romance writers, do we vary the kiss? Basically, however we want to. Kisses are brief, soft, or quick. They can be deep and passionate. They represent a promise and a lure to pleasure. A kiss can soothe a hurt and punctuate shared laughter. A kiss can lay claim to a lover, or give a regretful goodbye.
Never be afraid to let your characters lead you to how they kiss. It's a reflection of their personality, of their style. Work with them on it, don't hinder them. But don't be afraid to make them back up if they get it wrong.
The actual act of mouth-to-mouth kissing doesn't vary that much. Lips meet, tongues dance, teeth nibble and tonsils get checked out. What makes the kiss special is the emotion that lies within it. Reach for that, and each kiss will be unforgettable.
The kiss is a moment of decision for both parties. Do they proceed toward a deeper intimacy, or retreat? As the writer, you choose, but you must tap into the emotions behind their next move.
Whether or not it takes one perfect sentence, or a couple of paragraphs, never underestimate the kiss.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
A to Z Blogging 2012
April 12, 2012 - Day 11
Welcome to the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. This year I'm focusing on things I've learned, observed and experienced in the nine years I've been published. If you're a reader, I hope to offer an inside glimpse into the writer's world. If you're new to writing, I hope I can provide an insight or two. If you're an established writer, maybe you'll see similarities to your experience. Whatever path you walk, I welcome you to mine and hope you'll enjoy the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge.
"A kiss is just a kiss."
"It's in his kiss."
"Your kiss is on my list."
"I want to kiss you all over…"
It's hard to overstate the importance of mouth-to-mouth kissing in romance fiction. With both participants facing each other in a full frontal embrace, a kiss quite often does what our hero intends it to do. It leads to physical arousal in both participants, no matter of gender.
But how, as romance writers, do we vary the kiss? Basically, however we want to. Kisses are brief, soft, or quick. They can be deep and passionate. They represent a promise and a lure to pleasure. A kiss can soothe a hurt and punctuate shared laughter. A kiss can lay claim to a lover, or give a regretful goodbye.
Never be afraid to let your characters lead you to how they kiss. It's a reflection of their personality, of their style. Work with them on it, don't hinder them. But don't be afraid to make them back up if they get it wrong.
The actual act of mouth-to-mouth kissing doesn't vary that much. Lips meet, tongues dance, teeth nibble and tonsils get checked out. What makes the kiss special is the emotion that lies within it. Reach for that, and each kiss will be unforgettable.
The kiss is a moment of decision for both parties. Do they proceed toward a deeper intimacy, or retreat? As the writer, you choose, but you must tap into the emotions behind their next move.
Whether or not it takes one perfect sentence, or a couple of paragraphs, never underestimate the kiss.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
April 11, 2012
J is for Jargon
On Being a Published Writer
A to Z Blogging 2011
April 11, 2012
Day 10
Welcome to the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. This year I'm focusing on things I've learned, observed and experienced in the nine years I've been published. If you're a reader, I hope to offer an inside glimpse into the writer's world. If you're new to writing, I hope I can provide an insight or two. If you're an established writer, maybe you'll see similarities to your experience. Whatever path you walk, I welcome you to mine and hope you'll enjoy the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge.
Writers sometimes use a language all their own. Some you may recognize and others you may say are "NTM."
NTM- New to me
MS – manuscript
HEA – Happily Ever After
SWAK - Sealed with a kiss
ETA - Edited to Add
POV – Point of View
LI - Love interest
HFN – Happy for Now
CWD – Chicks with Dicks
SNI - Shiny new idea
BM – Black Moment
TSTL - Too Stupid to Live
WIP – Work in Progress
MC - Main character
M/M – Man on Man or Male on Male
F/F - Female on Female
TBM - The Big Misunderstanding
M/F – Male on Female
M/M/F - Male, Male, Female menage
HET – Heterosexual romance
SF – Speculative Fiction or Science Fiction
UST – Unresolved Sexual Tension
TBR - To be read
PWP – Porn Without Plot
NaNoWriMo - National November Writing Month
NF - Non-fiction
CR - Contemporary Romance
YA - Young Adult
GLBT - Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender
ER - Erotic Romance
UF - Urban Fantasy
PNSS - Paranormal shapeshifter
HR - Historical Romance
BDSM - Bondage, Dominance, Sadism, Masochism
CP – Critique Partner
RWA – Romance Writers of America
BIAM - Book in a Month
BICAW - Butt in chair and write
It's enough to make your head spin, isn't it?
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
April 10, 2012
I is for Ice Cream
A to Z Blogging 2012
On Being a Published Writer
April 10, 2012
Day 9
Every aspiring author should learn the value of ice cream.
No joke. Ice cream will always make the next chapter easier to write. My personal favorites are Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Black Raspberry.
There's something about the cool, creamy texture melting on my tongue that makes all worries flee. I even forget to worry about how stupid I'm going to look licking the bowl.
When you need a break - take one. You can't keep plugging away if your brain has gone to mush, or you're frustrated.
Take a walk. Do some stretches. Comb the dog. Eat some ice cream.
And go back to your work-in-progress refreshed.
KC Kendricks
Website
April 9, 2012
H is for Hero...and Hero
On Being a Published Writer
2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge
Day 8
April 9, 2012
I need a hero, I'm holding out for at hero
'till the end of the night
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
-Bonnie Tyler, I Need a Hero
We all need a Hero. Does he need to be tall, dark and handsome? It helps, but it's not a prerequisite these days. Geeks are good. The metro-sexual man is smart, sexy and all heart. Cowboys? Do I really have to explain cowboys?
We love vamps and shifters for the danger. Same goes for all the bad boys on bikes. Let's face it. Heroes come in all sizes, shapes, occupations and sexual orientations. A hero today is admired for his achievements as much as for his strength and courage in the face of adversity.
So how do we create a legendary hero?
If you've never heard the song, "I Need a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler, go to iTunes and get yourself a copy. Go Google for the entire lyrics. This song is an anthem for romance writers. Yes, I was there in the 1980's when it played on all the radio stations and I loved it.
If you love the hero (protagonist) you've envisioned, give him a worthy antagonist (love interest). Throw in a villain if you like external conflict, or keep his battle internal with himself. If you love him, that will come through in the prose and the readers will love him, too.
Strength of character can outweigh his biceps. The fight doesn't have to be down and dirty fisticuffs. In my own life, my partner, my very own hero, has beaten cancer twice. It takes a lot of strength and determination to win that fight, and it's his inner will that I find admirable and even sexy. And he's only a cowboy when he hops on the lawn tractor.
But this blog is called "Hero and Hero." It could be because KC Kendricks writes contemporary gay romance - two heroes per story. Two is more fun than one, that's for sure but that's not all of it. I also want to give you a head's up about those sneaky secondary characters who are heroes in their own right - the brother or the best friend. They will get down and dirty to hijack the story. I've had it happen a few times. Before you know it, you've got four heroes and two stories - but that's all good! Go with it!
Write your hero. Don't worry about some comment you read on one of those infernal lists that *this type man* or *that type man* sells best. You know some other author who writes that type of hero is the one pushing for everyone to love her kind of man! It's a herd mentality. Don't go there!
Don't even worry about the number of sales you might make on the book. It's counterproductive to worry about sales before the book is even written. You must first and foremost write to, for, and about your hero - for yourself.
Make him yours. Talk to him. Listen if he talks to you. Follow his lead because you're the one who pointed him in that direction. Take care of your hero (and his best friend and his brother, too) and everything else will fall into place.
KC Kendricks
website at: http://www.kckendricks.com/
blog: http://www.kckendricks.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kckendricks
mailing list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/betweenthekeys
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1989106.K_C_Kendricks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Kc-Kendricks/1439574042
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/kckendricks
Welcome to the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. This year I'm focusing on things I've learned, observed and experienced in the nine years I've been published. If you're a reader, I hope to offer an inside glimpse into the writer's world. If you're new to writing, I hope I can provide an insight or two. If you're an established writer, maybe you'll see similarities to your experience. Whatever path you walk, I welcome you to mine and hope you'll enjoy the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge.
April 7, 2012
G is for Google Guilt
Welcome to the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge. This year I'm focusing on things I've learned, observed and experienced in the nine years I've been published. If you're a reader, I hope to offer an inside glimpse into the writer's world. If you're new to writing, I hope I can provide an insight or two. If you're an established writer, maybe you'll see similarities to your experience. Whatever path you walk, I welcome you to mine and hope you'll enjoy the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge.
On Being a Published Writer
A to Z Blogging 2012
April 7, 2012
Day 7
I love Google.
It's true. Google puts the world at the fingertips of billions of people. It's a fabulous tool and I utilize it to the fullest. Any topic I want to learn about, Google can find a page for me, and not just about writing. It's about the entire world.
I probably don't need to extol the virtues of a good search engine to anyone. Alta Vista, the first one I used, is still around. There's Bing, Ask, HotBot, Yahoo, Excite. The list goes on and on. I just happen to like Google for the necessary "G" word today, and as a way to segue into the real topic for today – guilt.
No, it's not guilt for taking time away from your family and friends to write. We all do what we must to make our writing career work. And it's not even about that dark chocolate candy bar you have stashed in your purse so you don't have to share it. (Guilty!) Today I want to talk about Google Guilt.
Google Guilt is what some other authors might just try to lay on you for using a search engine to unearth information for a story. Don't buy into it.
Which is better?
A) The author adds just enough flavor to the prose to excite readers into going to Google to learn all about Belo Horizonte – or whatever the topic – for themselves.
OR…
B) The author who fills page after page with the smallest minutia meant to impress his/her reader with her/his intimate knowledge of the subject because, after all, they're an expert, but instead of impressing, it bores.
I suppose it's all in what you like, but I'll take "A" any day of the week.
My point is simply this: It's your story. Write it your way using whatever means are at your disposal to do so and to he$$ with the rest of us know-it-alls. Check your facts and keep your page links so you have the ammunition to prove your research to your editor, too. She's your beta reader and it's her job to make you "prove it."
It's the how the reader perceives the finish product that is important. Excite their interest!
And no Google Guilt allowed.
KC Kendricks
Website
