Beth K. Vogt's Blog, page 105

Contemporary Romance Writer: Behind Every Dream is …

"It is by sitting down to write every morning that one becomes a writer." ~Gerald Brenan, British writer

Dreams take a whole lot of work.

Who knew?

At first you hum a few song lyrics:

Life is but a dream …

Daydream believer …

Dream a little dream of me …

(OK, I admit it: I need to update the playlist in my head.)

But here's the point: Put the concept of daydreaming to music and it sounds so … easy. So let's-lie-around-in-the-grass-all-day-and-stare-at-clouds simple.

You know what, all you dreamers out there? There comes a time when you have to drag yourself up off the ground and sweat your dream into existence. Those old adages of putting your shoulder to the wheel or keeping your nose to the grindstone (ouch!) — that's the stuff dreams are made of.

For the last 10 days I planned out my second contemporary romance novel. This preliminary stage was it's own kind of work. Sketching out characters, detailing emotional journeys, deepening subplots … those sorts of things.

But yesterday I grabbed myself by the collar of my robe and dragged myself down to my office at 5 o'clock in the morning. Which meant my alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. There was no pushing the snooze button for 30 minutes — I was getting a few necessary things done before I powered up my computer and started my version of "It was a dark and stormy night …"

(That last bit was a joke. You know that, right?)

So here's my writer's equation for the day: Dreams = Hard Work.

Simple as that.

Oh, yeah. That process of dreams coming true? For me, prayer is the foundation of both my dreams and my hard work.

In Your Words: Finish the sentence: Behind every dream is ______________. What would you put in that blank space?

 

 

In Others' Words: Criticism

"Don't mind criticism. If it is untrue, disregard it; if unfair, keep from irritation; if it is ignorant, smile; if it is justified it is not criticism, learn from it." ~Unknown

Criticism.

In the past, I paid  entirely too much attention to critics. Sure, there were some people ready to let me know where I'd been less-than, not enough, or a full-out failure.

And then there was … me. I was more than ready to criticize myself.

Here's what I've learned about criticism: There's always someone ready to criticize. I'd rather be the person to encourage, to motivate, to offer the atta' boy (or atta' girl.) Even so, I'm enough of a realist to know criticism happens. I like this oh-so-wise person's approach to criticism in four easy steps:

Pay no attention to untrue criticism. And realize there's a lot of false "shoulda', woulda', coulda'"  thrown at you.
Realize sometimes criticism is unjust. Throw that little hissy fit in the privacy of your bedroom and get over it.
Don't forget the criticizer may be wrong. Remember this: People (you) look really smart when they keep their mouths shut. (Proverbs 17:28) So, let that gal (or guy) be wrong — and you be smart.
(Wo)man up and accept that the criticism is on the mark. (Ouch!) But don't beat yourself up with the feedback — learn from it. If need be, take a day or two and then unpack it.

In Your Words: How did you handle criticism the last time it came your way — #1, #2, #3 or #4? Or do you have another approach to handling criticism?

 

photo by soho13/stockxchng.com

In Others' Words: Stop

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around once in a while you could miss it." ~Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

So, how did your week go? Hard to believe it's Friday, right?

Confession: I'm working on this post on Sunday night. Even so, I'm fastening my seat belt because I know the week will rush by in a haze of MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday … whew!

Stop with me for a minute. How's life going for you? Did you laugh? Cry? Take time for family? Friends? Did you experience forward motion (a favorite goal of mine), maybe some stumbles backward? Were you the comforter or the one in need of comfort? Did you rest? Work out? Learn? Talk? Listen?

Did you live?

Were you a participant this past week? Or an observer?

In Your Words: Stop for just a minute and join the conversation: What was your life like this week? And then let us know what you're fastening your seat belt for next week.

Contemporary Romance Writer: Why There are No Aliens in My Novel

There are no aliens in Wish You Were Here, my debut novel.

Llamas, yes.

Aliens, no.

This fact greatly disappoints my husband. Whenever I hit an I-don't-know-what-to-write-next moment, my husband always suggested aliens. And I always, always overrode his suggestion with a polite "I don't think so." Or a flat-out "Not gonna' happen."

I'm all for surprising my readers. My Preferred Reader — a close friend who will be identified from here on out as only PR — told me I did just that with one particular scene in Wish You Were Here. But I assure you, there were no aliens in that scene–registered or otherwise. Or llamas, for that matter.

Now, if my book were set in Area 51 rather than in Colorado, then I'd be OK with bringing on the aliens. Who knows? Maybe an alien would be the villain — or possibly in a surprise twist, a hero or heroine. (My husband just offered a new word for a contemporary romance novel with an alien as heroine: a hero-it.)

I learned a lot during the three years I wrote and rewrote and rewrote my first novel. (Yes, you read that correctly: I wrote Wish You Were Here over three years. Remember I was the nonfiction writer learning to walk on the Dark Side of the writing road.)

One of the things I learned: A novel's action has to be plausible.   And, let's face it, aliens suddenly showing up mid-story in a contemporary romance novel would be, at the very least, unlikely. At the most, it would be lousy writing.

In Your Words: How do you feel when aliens crop up in the middle of a romance novel? Obviously, if you're reading paranormal romance, you're probably OK with that. But how do react when a romance takes a completely implausible turn? Do you keep reading? Or is that "the end," no matter how many pages you have left to read?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo by spekulator/stockxchng.com

In Others' Words: Friendship

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." Helen Keller, first deaf-blind woman to earn a bachelor's degree, who went on to become an internationally-known speaker & author

I am blessed with wonderful friends. If I took the time to share their names and stories … well, my blog post from here to eternity would be about how my friends have enriched my life. Challenged me. Changed me.

Today's quote made me think of my "safe harbor" friend Fran S. We've been friends … forever. Her smile won me over years and years ago when I was the mom of one little boy. I remember meeting her and thinking, "Oh, I could like her."

I had no idea.

Fran journeyed with me through some of the darkest times of my life as I tried to make sense of hurts from my past. One day I struggled so much I even walked out on my husband in a "I'm running away from home" kind of way.

We lived in a small town in Florida. Where do you run when there's not even a mall where you live? McDonald's? I drove around and around town, crying. Stopped to call my husband and let him know I was OK, but no, I wasn't coming home yet.

And then, for some reason, I turned my car toward Fran's house. As I pulled into her driveway, I saw Fran standing in her doorway. As if she was waiting for me.

As I walked up to her door, she met me and wrapped me in a hug.

"I prayed you would come here."

Her whispered words stunned me. My husband had called Fran and told her I was having a tough day (understatement) and Fran prayed … and waited. For me.

A woman of faith.

My safe harbor friend.

In Your Words: When has a friend walked with you through dark times? When have you had the chance to walk with a friend through a dark valley?

Photo by gizmo/istockphoto.com

Contemporary Romance Writer: With Apologies to Friends and Family as I Write Book #2

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm sorry.

Truly and deeply sorry.

I'm sorry for the washed-but-not-folded laundry. If you're looking for a clean pair a jeans, check the dryer.

I'm sorry that I'm not cooking. Again. Well, for me, the truth is I'm not cooking still. Thank you, God, that my husband loves to grill even during the winter months and that my son-in-love thinks cooking world-class meals is relaxing. Imagine that.

I'm sorry that you'll become much-too-familiar with the back of my head. And that I won't hear you when you talk to me unless you spin my desk chair around and make sure we've made eye contact. But please spin the chair s-l-o-w-l-y. I've had vertigo since May 2011, remember?

I'm sorry, friends one and all, that I can't do lunch. Or breakfast. Or dinner. Sorry I don't (always) answer the phone when you call. I do, however, text — on occasion.

I'm sorry I'm spending way-too much time with imaginary people. Kendall and Griffin and Evey and Heath and Ian. Weeks ago, I even asked some of you what I should name them. Or talked to you about their problems. Thank you for listening. I'm sorry that I'm all about understanding them — and you feel neglected. Let's call it like it is: You are neglected.

The one thing I cannot apologize for? Being a writer, specifically a contemporary romance writer. For all the "I'm sorrys" I can't not write. I do have a deadline after all. But more important: Deep in my soul I know God designed me to be a writer.

The last thing I want to say? Not an apology — but a huge thank you. Thank you, family and friends, for understanding. For believing in me when I don't. And for celebrating with me when all the hard work pays off.

With much appreciation because without you I couldn't do this,

Beth

In Your Words: Writers, did I forget to apologize for something? Readers and family and friends of writers: Want to weigh in?

In Others' Words: Regrets

"You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one." ~Unknown

When you think about it, that quote makes a lot of sense.

Focus on the past? There's no way you'll achieve forward motion into the future. Keep looking back over your shoulder? You'll miss the opportunities waiting for you here and now.

You get the point.

But do we? How often do we waste precious minutes and hours mulling over the memories of times past instead of moving on to today … and tomorrow? Don't get me wrong. I'm all for savoring memories. I love a good stroll down memory lane, arms linked with beloved family and friends.

But as the saying goes: (All of) that was then. (All of) this is now.

In Your Words: Whatcha' been reading? Is it time to turn the page on a certain life chapter? Time to focus on the next chapter in your life? Just for fun: Anybody catch the "that's peculiar" part of the photo for today's post?

photo by mmagallan/stockxchng.com

 

In Others' Words: Smart

"Work smarter, not harder." ~Ron Carswell, writer

Sometimes I get to the end of the day and I think, "Where did the day go? And what did I do all day?"

I know I did something. But it feels like, despite a lot of hard work, I've accomplished nothing.

It's Friday, the time when I throttle back (a bit) and focus more on family and less on writing. But I know Monday's coming.

In Your Words: Do you have any secrets for working smarter, not harder? What keeps you from spinning your wheels and ensures you achieve forward motion?

 

 

 

photo by gabetarian/stockxchng.com

Contemporary Romance Writer: My (least) Favorite Word

 

I've informed my family they won't be seeing much of me for the next few months.

Why, you ask?

I'm diving into my second novel. Which is due to my publisher, Howard Books, in May. Yep. Four months from now.

No. I am not panicking.

Much.

My editor approved the synopsis for my next inspirational contemporary romance — but not without asking some questions first.

And so I explained why I changed up a character. Why I inserted a particular subplot — and wanted to keep it. Why a character's problem was real — in a fictional sort of way, of course — not a ploy to push another character away.

And I also explained why, oh why, I wanted to write this novel.

As you read this post, are you getting a hint of my (least) favorite word?

Why.

Go ahead. Ask me why.

I will be wrestling the word "Why" into submission (and, yes, there's a pun there) as I write my work-in-progress (WIP). I've answered my editor's first round of whys — but it won't be the last round of whys.

I'm going to barrage my main characters with whys. It's the only way to peel back the shallow layer of a hero or heroine and discover their hidden depths.

As one of my mentors, best-selling author Susan May Warren, says in her writing book The Book Buddy: You ask your character who are you? How would you identify yourself? (Keep asking "Why?" until you get to their motivations and values.)

So why is "why" my (least) favorite word? I know the value of asking why. But sometimes I don't ask why enough. I settle for the surface answer. I dig into my character … sort of.

But I have another mentor. Award-winning author Rachel Hauck, aka Madame Mentor. She refuses to let me be a shallow writer. One time she asked me a series of whys about my hero. My answer: Because. Because I need such-and-such to happen in the story.

Not the right answer.

And so I was handed a figurative shovel and told to dig. And the way to do that is with the word why. And, yes, ultimately I was glad I took the time and effort to ask why, why, why. I understood my character much, much better when I was done.

In Your Words: I've told you my least favorite word. Do you have one? OK, that may be a loaded question. Why is it your least favorite word? (My husband said to ask that!) And here's a another just-for-fun question: Read any good books lately?

 

 

 

 

 

In Others' Words: Laughter

 

"Reclaiming the belly-laugh can cure a world of woes."

~ Jamie Sams, Native American writer & artist

Laughter is my all-time favorite sound. (I know I've said this before. No apologies for repeating myself.)

Laughter is healing. Laughter is hope-filled. Laughter broadens my shoulders, helps me (wo)man up and carry the demands and troubles of the day. Laughter reminds me that, yes, there is more to life than whatever is looming over me, blocking my view of tomorrow. Of eternity.

In Your Words: When was the last time you had an all-out belly-laugh? What makes you giggle, chortle, guffaw, snort — pushing back the woe-is-mes and making room for hope?

 

 

 

photo by Lisa Anne Meeter