C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 203

Writing Heroes with Bite

I'm in the final edits on my book about Vampire Max.  I also have two stories in the wings, and another book that's entirely different.  I need to write faster, because my characters are getting antsy and well, they bite.

How do you translate that to a book?  When writing about supernaturals that have a dangerous edge, I've discovered it's best to show them in a tranquil or vulnerable  moment to make that dark side more dramatic.   An example would be to have a very tormented but strong hero dance with the woman of his dreams, holding her ever so gently. She's so important to him; he doesn't want to hurt her human body.   Of course, when the villain goes after his lady love, we get to see the fierce side of the  hero.

A classic example of showing  both sides of a hero has been done in war novels, where the hero is a death defying solider leading the charge.  Later he looks with love at his wife who is  tending his wounds.  Show him strong.  Then show him vulnerable needing the heroine.

When the hero is supernatural you have the classic bits you can use, but there's also room for creativity.   Supernatural heroes appear indestructible.  There has to be something that can get your hero. Your heroine has to have some kind of affect on him to get past his defenses.  Use touch.  Use taste.  Use color.  Take risks.  Use fang and claw to be tender and to be tough.  Timing is everything, when writing characters with bite.  A time for war.  A time for love.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: Characters, Helping Other Writers, romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, vampire books, vampires, Writing Topics

What I Learned From Hurricane Irene

When I was talking to a wireless representative of my phone company, he asked if my disruption of service could be caused by a passing storm.  I asked him where he was.  He said Washington state.  I had to explain that the entire state of Connecticut had been smacked by Hurricane Irene, and that I had to use my phone landline to call in and report that my cell service was zero.  I was doing their by flashlight, as our power was out.

What have I learned?  I learned…

1. One side of the country doesn't necessarily know what's happening on the other side of the country?

2.  Glow sticks are excellent.

3.  If the water is leaking out of your bathtub (which happened to several people), get a new garbage can and line it with a heavy duty garbage bag before filling it with water.  We had 3 of them.

4. It's tough to edit by a booklight, but you can write by it.

5. A radio with batteries is a vital instrument in keeping your sanity, giving hope with its progress news reports, and being a source of entertainment.

6. A hard-wired phone keeps you connected, when cell phones fail.

What else did I learn?  To get more supplies, so the family can survive better in the dark next time.  Another hurricane might be headed our way next week.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Writer's Life

The Wishing Well

Be careful you fall in! As little kids, we were all probably familiar with some form of the saying, "You can't always get what you want or what you wish for." It's a saying that doesn't leave much room for negotiation.  Also well known is the saying, "Be careful what you wish for." It's a saying not easily heeded but easily regretted. This past week was one of those times for me and I'm going to share it with you all because I'm sure you've been there or will be there at some point.

The majority of us have some sort of routine in our lives. Even those hungry for adventure and spontaneity may have some sort of cycle or threshold where they begin to get anxious. As creatures of imagination and innovation (some of us more than others), it is very easy to get bored with the routine and wish for something more. That was me two weeks ago.

Life was sailing smooth. Day job was under control, I started a new manuscript, home life was great and I was of course, bored. In hindsight I look at it as being a bit ungrateful but that's why they say hindsight is always 20/20, right? It's not to say life is always easy, because it isn't. But sometimes we wish for more and for me, it was one of those moments.

Needless to say, one week later my life was in complete chaos. I was ready to throw in the towel with the day job (a stupid move in our current economy), I was having issues with a manuscript I was rewriting and home life grew tense because I was getting sick and acting irrationally under the stress.  I am happy to say I made it through the week. And after a weekend of rest, I am ready to dive into the next one. I will also admit that I will not be wishing for any change any time soon. I got what I wished for and I most definitely regretted it… at least this time.

Moral of the story: of course be careful with what you wish for AND enjoy life's routine in addition to its spontaneity.

Thanks for joining me and have a great week of writing!

 

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life, Writing Topics

A DATE TO FEED THE ARTISTIC WELL By Debralee Mede

After a weekend of frenzy and fear from the threat of destruction from Hurricane Irene, I am feeling a little drained and so is my muse.   Muse and I are both feeling like it is time to be rejuvenated using tools a la one of my favorite how-to authors, Julia Cameron this coming holiday weekend.  You may be familiar with one of Cameron's popular self-help books called "The Artist's Way."  This book was written with the intent of helping the artist live a creative life by being open to receiving creative inspiration.  The tools she encourages writers use are: to write three pages of free writing every morning or "Morning Pages" in order to retrieve creativity and to keep "The Artist Date."   With "Morning Pages" is the way that you notify yourself of your intentions while the "Artist Date" allows you to receive inspiration and guidance.    

The "Artist Date" a la Cameron is a block of time when you give your inner artist time for a play date.   It is a time where you, as Julia says, "fill the well and stock the pond."  To do this the artist must feed his brain images that must be reached by using the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.  This serves to nourish the writer within using repetitive actions.  Laura Esquivel who wrote "Like Water For Chocolate" says that the idea for the book came to her "while she was cooking the recipes of her mother and grandmother."

Like Esquivel one way that I try to "Stock the Pond" by cooking and this Labor Day weekend is the best time for me to use some grilling recipes that I enjoy eating, cooking and sharing.  Grilled fish is a favorite of mine and while I have used mahi mahi, bluefish, mackerel, striped bass, and tuna in this recipe.  As an aside mahi mahi, though called dolphin and Dorado, is really a dolphin fish and not the mammal known as dolphin. .  It is brilliantly colored with an iridescent bluish green and gold body, and golden yellow fins and tail while in water.  They have a firm texture, are extra lean, and are a sweetly moist meat with moderate flavor and are considered to be an ocean-friendly seafood choice when commercially harvested by hook-and-line which does not cause destruction of their habitat or of other species.

Mahi Mahi or Dolphin Fish

 Grilled Mahi-Mahi

Ingredients:

4 mahi-mahi fillets (3/4 inch thick each )
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon lime juice

Dolphin Mammal

3 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
1/2 cup olive oil
Serves 4








Marinate the fish, covered, in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes while you make the salsas and light the grill.  Brush and oil the preheated grill grate.  Arrange the fish filets on the grill, and cook while basting on each side with the reserved marinade until nicely browned and cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes.  Discard the marinade and transfer the fish to a platter.  Serve with your favorite salad like pasta, potato or black bean salad.  Or, if you would like try filling warm tortillas with the savory grilled fish topped with sour cream, cheese, lettuce or homemade cabbage slaw, guacamole, and a fresh tomato salsa.  Roll it up and enjoy flavorful fish tacos.

Let your artist's imagination go this weekend: fill up the well and stock the pond."  This weekend do feed your body and soul with great food and friends on Labor Day.  Be safe and enjoy a great day of creating, eating and writing."

Debralee Mede

My question: What fills your writer's well?  What feeds your muse?
























Filed under: Artist Date, grilled fish, Julia Cameron, Laura Esquivel, Mahi Mahi, Morning Pages, muse, recipe, romance, Stock the Pond, Taco, Writing

Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Hi, everyone!  Yes, I was missing for most of today.  I was in the dark and without power.  Hurricane Irene took out some of the lines at the top of the street very early Sunday morning.  Gee, but I missed everyone.  So here it is.

I have inherited the Paranormal-Scope from Mason.  I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets. But I am linked into the paranormal in the world.

The week ahead for:

Aries

A new hat may be in order for you this week.  There may be magic in it.

Taurus

A unicorn likes you.  You must be special.

Gemini

The wolves are howling in pursuit of a prize.  Join them and it could be yours.

Cancer

When the Minotaur roars, it's time to take cover.

Leo

When hippos in tutus dance, you're in for a lucky day.

Virgo

Sirens are singing off shore.   Someone will look favorably upon you.

Libra

Griffons can get cranky when blown off course.  Be a good listener.

Scorpio

Vampires can do more than bite.  Lucky you.

Sagittarius

A shapeshifter can be a good friend to have.  They see things from multiple sides.

Capricorn

The fae have rewarded you with a glow.  Guard it well.

Aquarius

The vampire from last week remains.  You're still resolving old issues.

Pieces

The mermaids are sleeping and sending you a good dream.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Winnowing

I am coming to the end of the packing, sorting, storing, jettisoning process. And not a moment too soon as I think my friends have had just about enough of my whinging about it. It's been difficult to get much writing done while these activities occupy my days. I'm usually a champion of writing no matter what, so it's a bit unusual that I don't write at all.

Of course when I say "I don't write at all" I'm exaggerating, because there are these blog posts under my various names, lots of emails (far too many) and my constant chattering on Twitter. Once it gets to be a habit, it's hard to stop writing. I notice that if I'm not doing enough writing my head tends to fill with hornets. Not pleasant to have a head full of hornets buzzing to be written down and released.

But to conjure that magic circle of concentration, it takes time and effort, something I'm short on now. The physical act of winnowing my belongings and sorting through them, however, has made me think how much it's like editing your work after that first mad draft. The process of figuring out what you need as opposed to what you just happen to like is the same whether you're talking about books to put in storage or prose that wanders from the narrative a little too far.

It's important not to let fatigue make the decisions; with deadlines though sometimes that happens. All my things have to be sorted one way or another by the 31st; generally with writing I don't have such draconian deadlines, but at present I have a piece that's overdue and niggling at the back of my mind. There's simply nothing I can do about it at present; it's an academic essay and I can't really do the edits in spare moments between packing boxes. It's going to take a big block of time — which will have to be after the 31st. Let's hope I can work my magic on it!

Fumée d'Ambre Gris (Smoke of Ambergris) by John Singer Sargent

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, erotic romance, Flirting, historical romance, inspiration, Kit Marlowe, romance, What inspires you?, Writer's Life

REJECTION by Gerri Brousseau

Since childhood we have been conditioned to accept rejection.  As children we were told "No" countless times.  Do you recall when, as a child, you asked if you could go to a movie with your friends or perhaps if you could sleep over a friend's house and your mother said no?  Did you simply say to yourself, "oh ok" … and leave it at that?  NO WAY JOSE.  You begged, pleaded, cajoled, and tormented your parental figure hoping against hope that if you asked continually, they would finally give in.  They hardly ever did, yet did that stop us from our constant nagging and begging.  No.

As we grew to adulthood, however, we somehow lost that tenacity.  We grew to realize that our parents hardly ever changed their edict and we lost the will to fight the good fight.  As adults we simply grew to accept No as No.  Yet, after reading Jennifer Fusco's post on her blog at "Market or Die" (8/13/11 – "We Are All Puppies"), I started to think about applying that childlike tenacity toward getting my writing published.

I recently read that John Grisham had received over 30 rejection letters on his first novel, "A Time to Kill."  Imagine if he said, "Oh, ok  Maybe I'm not a writer after all"?  I saw on TV recently Kathryn Stockett could not get an agent to represent her first novel, a little book you may have heard of called, "The Help"

… and the list goes on.  My point being these published authors acted in childlike faith and held on with the tenacity of a pit bull and forged onward until they got their work published.  Yes, they wrote well, they told a great story; but how many great stories are written that will never see publication simply because the author gave up too early?

I have taken to writing on slips of paper that my novel(s) is/are published and have attached these little slips of paper to the mirror in my bedroom … why you may ask?  Take a look on the side mirrors on your car.  Do you see the writing that says "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear."  I have made a conscious decision now to behave like a child, holding on to the begging, pleading, cajoling, tormenting with the tenacity of a pit bull and hope against hope … my novels get published.

Where would we be if the John Grisham's, JK Rowling's, Kathryn Stockett's, and Steven King's of this world gave up one rejection too soon?  Every author had to write their first novel.  Every single one of us has had to suffer the bitter taste of rejection.  But, if we hold on and do not give up too soon we will taste the sweet taste of success.  I want to be among those who have held on and succeeded. Remember, success is closer than it appears.

Gerri Brousseau

Filed under: romance

Testing My Courage–Brown Belt and Writing

Last night I had to get up in front of people and show what I've learned in Muay Thai (Thai Kickboxing).  I tested for my brown belt.  Where is that in the ranking of belts?  Next is a half and half belt–brown and black.  Then there's the tests of tests–Black Belt.  It's not that far away now, if I keep going and don't have any more setbacks.  Yesterday I had decided it didn't matter how I felt, I was going to do it.

Only a few months ago, I was very ill and struggling through everything.  During that time, I was supposed to test and I asked my sensei to allow me to wait.  He agreed if I felt that way.  At the time, all I felt every time I moved was pain.  I went to as many kickboxing classes as I could because I knew moving was moving forward, and no matter how scared I had become inside, I was determined to win my own personal battle.

It's like being a little bird sitting on the edge of the nest looking down into the abyss.  Last night I leaped off and flew.  I had to believe I had come back and I was going to do it.  I had to perservere.

Being a writer is like a belt test.  You have a great story to tell.  You believe in yourself –sort of, but that's not enough.  Even when everything is going wrong, when you're sick, exhausted, or overwhelmed, you write.  I'll be honest and tell you that the writing may not be your best that this time, but moving forward is the most important thing you could do.  Edit-rewrite-edit-rewrite until it is tremendously breathless.  You'll know. The feeling of a written work tremendously breathless gives the most divine lift to the heart when read aloud.  The next step is to look out over the big wide world.  That part always makes me feel small.  Then leap–send that manuscript out into the world.  Soaring is everything.  Publishing lengthens your horizon, extends the flight.

All of it is a test of courage.

Did I say that I achieved brown belt?

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

P.S.  I am doing a free online one day workshop called "Put Heart into Your Blog" on Saturday,  August 27th.  Even though it's free, you still have to register at http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=1215

Filed under: romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Writer's Life, Writing Topics

Storms, Tremors, and Turtles of Change

I don't know about you, but things have been a bit weird around here.  I drove home the Sunday before last from Philadelphia in sheets of rain and rolling fog.  I have to say that when I got to the bit of highway before the Tappan Zee Bridge, I was attracted to the exit for Hunter's Mountain.  Have you ever been there?  It's the perfect locale for a haunting tale.  I was attracted but persisted through the storm until I got home.

This last Sunday we had a wonderful family dinner.  I love it when my married daughter with her husband comes over.  There's a calm with the whole family around the table, talking, eating, and then watching some tv together.

Now Tuesday we had an earthquake on the East Coast of the U.S.  The epicenter was just outside of Richmond, Virginia.  Where I am in Connecticut, I felt a shimmy like a truck passing by, but other town felt more.  I happened to be on Twitter for my job and watched all the different newscaster comment with the closings and evacuations, even if only for a little while.  Some places as far North as Canada felt it.  Some places felt nothing.  One person on Twitter referred to it as the practice for the apocalypse, something about going down in flames with pity conversation.  I found the whole interaction of the human race immensely interesting.  This is why.

When I came back from Philadelphia, it continued raining.  I went to the doctor and on the way home, I rescued a turtle from the road.  I got him safely to a lake.  The next day it rained again, and this time I rescued a different turtle on a different road and got him to a pond.  What I noticed is that when it pours like this, the turtles seem to think the world is made of water and they should go walking or dancing in it.  They forget things like roads and cars.  They are just too happy with all the water.  They are enjoying their world and the change even if it's temporary.

The human race hasn't been too happy lately, and the storms and now the earthquake seems to have thrown a lot of people into panic mode over something they have no control over.  With all the stresses over budgets, jobs, and Wall Street, some people are having trouble finding any happiness at all. We may not be able to change a crisis, but we can change how we react to it.

I'm going to learn from the turtles.  Next time it rains, I'm going to dance.   Only you can be sure, I won't be dancing in the street. 

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Writer's Life

In It for the Long Haul

If I were to dig back through the archives of blogs I've written, I'm sure I'd find at least one addressing why writers write. But the subject came to mind this past weekend as I watched a couple movies based on novels. It got me thinking about how truly amazing the human imagination can be. And it got me contemplating why I write.

You see, the more I write, the more I want to write but I can also feel my mindset changing. When I started writing, it was a challenge to see if I could finish a book and do something I'd always dreamed of doing. Now I am writing pretty much every day (still not full time). It's no longer a question of whether I am going to write each day, but more of a question of what I'm going to work on each day. Kind of like brushing your teeth, you just do it. In addition to this, I find myself beginning to contemplate the extras that go along with writing as a profession. The social networking, the website, the advertising (trailers, banners, etc.) and of course the continuous writing and submitting of manuscripts to keep the process alive.

As a writer starting off the thought of all this is overwhelming and I have to admit it doesn't get any easier, at least not after 2-3 years. It gives me a moment's twinge of jealousy that amazing authors like Dickens and Austen didn't have to worry about a twitter account. Then again, they also couldn't find information on anything with a few button clicks so I probably shouldn't be whining.

Either way, despite the concerns of keeping up with today's world and building a career out of writing, I have to admit I'm in it for the long haul. The requirements are daunting but quite simply, I love writing and sharing my work too much to give up on the rest of it. So twittering, craft-improving, facebooking (I know I made that word up), and all the rest of it, here I come!

 

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life, Writing Topics