Ute Carbone's Blog, page 46
June 19, 2012
June 17, 2012
Happy Father's Day
Those Winter SundaysBy Robert Hayden Sundays too my father got up early and put his clothes on in the blueblack cold, then with cracked hands that ached from labor in the weekday weather made banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.
I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking. When the rooms were warm, he’d call, and slowly I would rise and dress, fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him, who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well. What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices?
I’d wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking. When the rooms were warm, he’d call, and slowly I would rise and dress, fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him, who had driven out the cold and polished my good shoes as well. What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices?
June 16, 2012
Katie O comes to visit
The lovely Katie O'Connor, writer of romance and erotica, has come to visit today! She's got a new book, The Gift, which is sure to steam up your glasses.
Click on cover to buy Katie's book on Amazon
Plotting With My Pants DownFirst off, I have to thank UteRecently, I learned that there are two types of writers. Personally, I’ve always found the names for them quite funny. I mean, how can you not laugh at the terms plotter and pantser? When I hear plotter, I think grave yards and creepy old dudes with shoves. Pantser? I picture someone dancing with their pants around their ankles, and it ain’t pretty.
Seriously, plotters are those writers who plan their stories from start to finish with all the details, story lines, events and characters in place before they put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. They even make notes! On the other hand, pantsers are those writers who begin with an idea or character and start writing, flying by the seat of their pants, making it up as they go along.
Being the difficult person I am, as a writer, I am a hybrid. I am fuelled by licorice allsorts and coffee or alternately by Vodka and Pepsi, depending on the time of day. Oh wait, that’s not what I meant. What I should have said, is that I’m part plotter, and part pantser. I start with a scene in my head and maybe part of a plot. Then I wiggle it around until I have a storyline going. Then the fun begins, and I start writing. I add details of the characters’ lives, descriptions and conflicts as they come to me.
On a good day, I can follow the characters where they lead me and writing is okay. On bad days, I scribble and scratch down words only to delete them ten minutes later. This is the flying by the seat of my pants part. I keep working and playing, hoping that my characters will lead me someplace worth going. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Often, they lead me to some place entirely different from where I was originally headed.
Last week, Jason kept talking to me. Now, you have to understand that Jason isn’t a real person. He’s is, or rather was, a character in my current erotic story. (Working title Tessa’s Trio.) Jason kept telling me to change his name. His nagging voice grated on my nerves and irritated me every time he appeared in the story. Eventually, I gave in to the madness and changed his name. Thus, Mitch was born. Jason is gone, and so are the voices. That’s good, right?
In the spirit of making it up as I go along, I’ve been known to steal ideas where ever I find them. On occasion, I pick up an idea from watching other people and can be found eavesdropping almost anywhere. Many ideas come to me in dreams. Yesterday, I woke up thinking of one of my many works in progress and words popped into my head out of nowhere. I scratched them down as quickly as possible. I thought what came to me wasn’t bad . . .
Peter crossed the room, a slow smile lighting his face. Stopping before Beth, he cupped her cheek in his hand, leaned down and kissed her softly. “Hi,” he whispered, his eyes sparkling with happiness. “It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you.” He leaned in again, kissed her senseless and walked away, leaving her staring at his retreating back, listening to her heart pound.
***
Beth watched him from across the room. Sweat glistened on the back of his neck. The game was tied, and both teams were exhausted, but she had lost interest in the game. All she could see was the sweat beading on Peter’s skin. She could almost smell its enticing masculine aroma from here. She licked her dry lips, closed her eyes and lost herself in the image of licking the sweat from his skin.
So now, I have two paragraphs, and in my mind each has fleshed out to a complete scene. I’m just hoping I can write them so they read as steamy on paper as they do in my mind. As a bonus, each will actually advance the romantic plot! Again, this is the pantser part. The story started with a great opening scene between two people forbidden by circumstances to be together. I had no idea where to go from there. But over time, their lives have changed and Peter and Beth have fumbled their way into a relationship and what might be a lasting love. All I have to do know is invent the ending.
So I’m off now, to plot or maybe to fly by the seat of my pants. Have a good one!
HugsKatie(And thanks again for hosting me Ute.)______________________
The above was written by Katie O’Connor, She’s been a writer for eons. Okay, for so long she won’t admit to a number of years. She’s written a number of novels and short stories. This past December, her most recent work, an erotic novella called THE GIFT, was published by Etopia Press. It was her first published book. Woot! Woot! Check out her blog for links to purchase her book, or to read more about the insanity that is her life.
When Katie isn’t writing, she’s at the local rink watching lacrosse, or reading something steamy, or both. You can also find Katie on:Twitter: Katie O'Connor @KatieOhWritesFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/katieohwritesHer Blog: http://katieoh.blogspot.comGoodreads: as Katie O'ConnorAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/katieoconnor
Click on cover to buy Katie's book on AmazonPlotting With My Pants DownFirst off, I have to thank UteRecently, I learned that there are two types of writers. Personally, I’ve always found the names for them quite funny. I mean, how can you not laugh at the terms plotter and pantser? When I hear plotter, I think grave yards and creepy old dudes with shoves. Pantser? I picture someone dancing with their pants around their ankles, and it ain’t pretty.
Seriously, plotters are those writers who plan their stories from start to finish with all the details, story lines, events and characters in place before they put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. They even make notes! On the other hand, pantsers are those writers who begin with an idea or character and start writing, flying by the seat of their pants, making it up as they go along.
Being the difficult person I am, as a writer, I am a hybrid. I am fuelled by licorice allsorts and coffee or alternately by Vodka and Pepsi, depending on the time of day. Oh wait, that’s not what I meant. What I should have said, is that I’m part plotter, and part pantser. I start with a scene in my head and maybe part of a plot. Then I wiggle it around until I have a storyline going. Then the fun begins, and I start writing. I add details of the characters’ lives, descriptions and conflicts as they come to me.
On a good day, I can follow the characters where they lead me and writing is okay. On bad days, I scribble and scratch down words only to delete them ten minutes later. This is the flying by the seat of my pants part. I keep working and playing, hoping that my characters will lead me someplace worth going. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Often, they lead me to some place entirely different from where I was originally headed.
Last week, Jason kept talking to me. Now, you have to understand that Jason isn’t a real person. He’s is, or rather was, a character in my current erotic story. (Working title Tessa’s Trio.) Jason kept telling me to change his name. His nagging voice grated on my nerves and irritated me every time he appeared in the story. Eventually, I gave in to the madness and changed his name. Thus, Mitch was born. Jason is gone, and so are the voices. That’s good, right?
In the spirit of making it up as I go along, I’ve been known to steal ideas where ever I find them. On occasion, I pick up an idea from watching other people and can be found eavesdropping almost anywhere. Many ideas come to me in dreams. Yesterday, I woke up thinking of one of my many works in progress and words popped into my head out of nowhere. I scratched them down as quickly as possible. I thought what came to me wasn’t bad . . .
Peter crossed the room, a slow smile lighting his face. Stopping before Beth, he cupped her cheek in his hand, leaned down and kissed her softly. “Hi,” he whispered, his eyes sparkling with happiness. “It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you.” He leaned in again, kissed her senseless and walked away, leaving her staring at his retreating back, listening to her heart pound.
***
Beth watched him from across the room. Sweat glistened on the back of his neck. The game was tied, and both teams were exhausted, but she had lost interest in the game. All she could see was the sweat beading on Peter’s skin. She could almost smell its enticing masculine aroma from here. She licked her dry lips, closed her eyes and lost herself in the image of licking the sweat from his skin.
So now, I have two paragraphs, and in my mind each has fleshed out to a complete scene. I’m just hoping I can write them so they read as steamy on paper as they do in my mind. As a bonus, each will actually advance the romantic plot! Again, this is the pantser part. The story started with a great opening scene between two people forbidden by circumstances to be together. I had no idea where to go from there. But over time, their lives have changed and Peter and Beth have fumbled their way into a relationship and what might be a lasting love. All I have to do know is invent the ending.
So I’m off now, to plot or maybe to fly by the seat of my pants. Have a good one!
HugsKatie(And thanks again for hosting me Ute.)______________________
The above was written by Katie O’Connor, She’s been a writer for eons. Okay, for so long she won’t admit to a number of years. She’s written a number of novels and short stories. This past December, her most recent work, an erotic novella called THE GIFT, was published by Etopia Press. It was her first published book. Woot! Woot! Check out her blog for links to purchase her book, or to read more about the insanity that is her life.
When Katie isn’t writing, she’s at the local rink watching lacrosse, or reading something steamy, or both. You can also find Katie on:Twitter: Katie O'Connor @KatieOhWritesFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/katieohwritesHer Blog: http://katieoh.blogspot.comGoodreads: as Katie O'ConnorAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/katieoconnor
June 15, 2012
Over at Katie O's
Ever wonder where stories come from? If your parents never told you, I've got the scoop over at Katie O'Connor's blog today. 
June 14, 2012
Visiting with Eveli
Do you sometimes feel like a nut? I'm blogging about it at Eveli Acosti's blog today. Come say hello!
June 13, 2012
Top ten reasons to buy the P-Town Queen instead of a mocha frappuccino
It can be a tough choice:
Buy a Mocha Frappuccino
or
Download a copy of the P-Town Queen
At just under four dollars, they both cost about the same.
Here's why you should opt for the book:
1. The P-Town Queen will give you hours of enjoyment. A few minutes with the frap and you're done.2. The P-Town Queen is calorie free. In fact, you may burn a few calories while reading.3. Take the frap to the beach and you risk getting sand in your mouth. Not a problem with the P-Town Queen.4. There's nothing to throw away when you finish The P-Town Queen.5. You don't have to stand in line at the coffee shop to buy a copy of the P-Town Queen.6. If you accidentally knock The P-Town Queen off the coffee table, it will not spill all over the rug.7. Have you ever read the side of frap cup? Boring!8. Laughing out loud while reading The P-Town Queen will not leave you wishing you'd brought along a change of clothes.9. When you finish The P-Town Queen, you can loan it to a friend. Try doing that with a frap.10. Laughing out loud while drinking a frap will get you strange stares from the other coffee shop patrons.
Of course, you could always get BOTH The P-Town Queen and the Mocha Frappuccino and still get change back from your ten!
Buy a Mocha Frappuccino
or
Download a copy of the P-Town Queen
At just under four dollars, they both cost about the same.
Here's why you should opt for the book:
1. The P-Town Queen will give you hours of enjoyment. A few minutes with the frap and you're done.2. The P-Town Queen is calorie free. In fact, you may burn a few calories while reading.3. Take the frap to the beach and you risk getting sand in your mouth. Not a problem with the P-Town Queen.4. There's nothing to throw away when you finish The P-Town Queen.5. You don't have to stand in line at the coffee shop to buy a copy of the P-Town Queen.6. If you accidentally knock The P-Town Queen off the coffee table, it will not spill all over the rug.7. Have you ever read the side of frap cup? Boring!8. Laughing out loud while reading The P-Town Queen will not leave you wishing you'd brought along a change of clothes.9. When you finish The P-Town Queen, you can loan it to a friend. Try doing that with a frap.10. Laughing out loud while drinking a frap will get you strange stares from the other coffee shop patrons.
Of course, you could always get BOTH The P-Town Queen and the Mocha Frappuccino and still get change back from your ten!
June 12, 2012
Visit with Raine Delight
I'm visiting with Raine Delight today. She's got some nice cabana boys offering up drinks with umbrellas. Come stop by!
June 11, 2012
In the Comfy Chair
I'm sitting in Elin Gregory's comfy chair today. Pull up your own comfy chair and join me for awhile!
June 8, 2012
P-Town visits Brinda Berry's Blog
I'm blogging about the importance of setting at Brinda Berry's blog today!
Provincetown Massachusetts is the setting for The P-Town Queen
Provincetown Massachusetts is the setting for The P-Town Queen
June 6, 2012
Insecure Writer: OMG it's in print!
Click on image for more writer insecuritiesI worry about many things—the health and well being of my family, running out of money and having to live in a refrigerator box, whether or not the tiny spot on my wrist is a bug bite or something that will require amputation. This week I have something new to worry about; my romantic comedy P-Town Queen has been released. P-Town is meant to be funny. Writing funny means taking risks—the biggest risk being that others will view me as crazy. To write well, be it comedy or something more serious, you need to push boundaries. You need to ride hard and fast into uncharted territory with little thought to what the mailman or the barista at Starbucks will think of you. That’s not always easy to do. In the confines of your writer’s garret, locked away from the world, you can manage it. But then the wonderful terrible thing happens: you get published. All those words come out of the dark garret into the light. You’ve been exposed. The mailman and the barrista will know you're just a few bucks and fender bender from complete lunacy. You feel like you have to change your name and address. From now on, if anyone asks, I’m Mary Smith.
For more writer insecurity, please visit Insecure Writer's Support Group
