H.B. Pattskyn's Blog, page 28
December 22, 2011
Solistice Greetings
Solstice Greetings
I selected the above video, a song from Jennifer Berezan--whose music my lovely friend and teacher Bekki introduced me to last year--because it conveys in simplest terms my desire for the coming solar year, for the world:
My wish is simple, yet complicated: freedom, love, hope and prosperity for all beings, everywhere.
I woke this morning without the alarm at 5am, and went about my usual morning routine for the first couple of hours--I even put in about five hundred words an yet another new WIP--I spent the weekend reading when I should have been writing and I emerged with a few ideas, for turning the usual tropes of BDSM romance upside down. Eventually, I'll tell you all about it...but not today.
Today, although I have some much-needed work planned, is for the Sun. When I noticed the sky turning from black to grey, I gathered up my candles put on my favorite solstice song...
...and spoke the words I speak every year from memory. I do have them written down, but after 20 some years of practice, I know what I want to say and how the words come out isn't nearly as important as what is in the heart of the speaker.
Fire for the Light of the SunFire for the Love of the GodsFire for Light in the worldFire for Love in the worldFire for Understanding between peoplesFire for Peace between nationsFire for Healing...physical...spiritual...emotional... Fire for Equality...human equality...marriage equality...Fire for Joy Fire for the protection of those I loveFire to light the way toward a world where hatred and mistrust no longer existFire to give thanks for all those who have touched my life, my friends, my family, my teachersFire for those who have no voiceFire for all the little kindnesses from strangersFire for the healing and health of those whom I hold dear Fire to light my own way, to help me find the right road (for me) as a witch, a writer, a teacher and a priestess... finding the right job would really help, too!Fire for forgiveness, because it's the first step toward healing old (and not so old) wounds, the first step toward real love, toward just plain being the person I want to beFire for personal growthFire for success, for my book, my art...
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year. Here after the days will begin to get (slowly) longer. That is why we say the sun is reborn at Yule. The lights most of us put on our holiday trees are a reminder that in the darkness light is born. Like the evergreen tree (or its modern day plastic facsimile), the lights are a Pagan in origin. In the past, it was believed that the sun needed energy to grow strong; when we lit candles, we gave it the energy it needed. Our light lights the sun; the sun's light lights us. It is a cycle of the best kind, where we give love strenght to our Gods and They in turn give love and strength to us. So this morning, I lit candles to strengthen the sun, and to strengthen my connection to my Gods--to strengthen my own life.
(yes, my personal shrine is just as eclectic as I am!)
I'm an Egyptian baby at heart, so on Solstice Morning, it seems only right to me to give praise to Isis, Osiris, the dying and resurrecting God of the Black Land, and to Horus, the living Osiris, the rising Sun--who have now moved from their former home on a much neglected shrine in the living room to the my office. The rest of my Egyptian shrine will be moving soon, too.
Of course, I'm also a Witch and a Shamanic student. None of these things is mutually exclusive. As a solitary practitioner, I am able to blend and balance a practice that works "just right" for me.
I could not have asked for a more perfect, beautiful Solstice morning; the sun is coming up outside my window and is truly a beautiful, golden light, promising a bright new year (if I weren't feeling a bit skritchy in the throat and one of my coworkers yesterday confessed to being a bit under the weather, so I may have picked up a few germs and I don't need to get sick, so I'm staying inside where it's warm.)
As the music died down, along with my candles, the sun rose higher and birds began to chirp and twitter outside my winow. I remembered the story of the Robin and the Wren, how the Robin, the King of Summer, slays the Wren, Winter's Lord, on Solstice morning... and I'm glad that in contemporary Solstice festivities such slayings are purely symbolic! I rather like wrens... and seriously, who wants a bunch of neighborhood brats showing up on their doorstep with a dead bird begging for pennies to "bury the wren"? I much prefer the tradition of wassailing, decorating the tree and lighting candles!
Now, it's time for a nice Solstice breakfast (I'm thinking eggs and mushrooms...) then maybe I'll get the kid up so we can open gifts (yes, being Pagan does mean that many less shopping days til that big December holiday!) and then it's time to settle into work....
Happy Winter Solstice!!(and if you happen to be on the other side of the world, Happy Summer Solstice!)
May this season of JoyKindle the Fire of Love in your heartsRegardless of yourReligionPath orPhilosophyHelen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
I selected the above video, a song from Jennifer Berezan--whose music my lovely friend and teacher Bekki introduced me to last year--because it conveys in simplest terms my desire for the coming solar year, for the world:
My wish is simple, yet complicated: freedom, love, hope and prosperity for all beings, everywhere.
I woke this morning without the alarm at 5am, and went about my usual morning routine for the first couple of hours--I even put in about five hundred words an yet another new WIP--I spent the weekend reading when I should have been writing and I emerged with a few ideas, for turning the usual tropes of BDSM romance upside down. Eventually, I'll tell you all about it...but not today.
Today, although I have some much-needed work planned, is for the Sun. When I noticed the sky turning from black to grey, I gathered up my candles put on my favorite solstice song...
...and spoke the words I speak every year from memory. I do have them written down, but after 20 some years of practice, I know what I want to say and how the words come out isn't nearly as important as what is in the heart of the speaker.
Fire for the Light of the SunFire for the Love of the GodsFire for Light in the worldFire for Love in the worldFire for Understanding between peoplesFire for Peace between nationsFire for Healing...physical...spiritual...emotional... Fire for Equality...human equality...marriage equality...Fire for Joy Fire for the protection of those I loveFire to light the way toward a world where hatred and mistrust no longer existFire to give thanks for all those who have touched my life, my friends, my family, my teachersFire for those who have no voiceFire for all the little kindnesses from strangersFire for the healing and health of those whom I hold dear Fire to light my own way, to help me find the right road (for me) as a witch, a writer, a teacher and a priestess... finding the right job would really help, too!Fire for forgiveness, because it's the first step toward healing old (and not so old) wounds, the first step toward real love, toward just plain being the person I want to beFire for personal growthFire for success, for my book, my art...
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year. Here after the days will begin to get (slowly) longer. That is why we say the sun is reborn at Yule. The lights most of us put on our holiday trees are a reminder that in the darkness light is born. Like the evergreen tree (or its modern day plastic facsimile), the lights are a Pagan in origin. In the past, it was believed that the sun needed energy to grow strong; when we lit candles, we gave it the energy it needed. Our light lights the sun; the sun's light lights us. It is a cycle of the best kind, where we give love strenght to our Gods and They in turn give love and strength to us. So this morning, I lit candles to strengthen the sun, and to strengthen my connection to my Gods--to strengthen my own life.
(yes, my personal shrine is just as eclectic as I am!)I'm an Egyptian baby at heart, so on Solstice Morning, it seems only right to me to give praise to Isis, Osiris, the dying and resurrecting God of the Black Land, and to Horus, the living Osiris, the rising Sun--who have now moved from their former home on a much neglected shrine in the living room to the my office. The rest of my Egyptian shrine will be moving soon, too.
Of course, I'm also a Witch and a Shamanic student. None of these things is mutually exclusive. As a solitary practitioner, I am able to blend and balance a practice that works "just right" for me.
I could not have asked for a more perfect, beautiful Solstice morning; the sun is coming up outside my window and is truly a beautiful, golden light, promising a bright new year (if I weren't feeling a bit skritchy in the throat and one of my coworkers yesterday confessed to being a bit under the weather, so I may have picked up a few germs and I don't need to get sick, so I'm staying inside where it's warm.)
As the music died down, along with my candles, the sun rose higher and birds began to chirp and twitter outside my winow. I remembered the story of the Robin and the Wren, how the Robin, the King of Summer, slays the Wren, Winter's Lord, on Solstice morning... and I'm glad that in contemporary Solstice festivities such slayings are purely symbolic! I rather like wrens... and seriously, who wants a bunch of neighborhood brats showing up on their doorstep with a dead bird begging for pennies to "bury the wren"? I much prefer the tradition of wassailing, decorating the tree and lighting candles!
Now, it's time for a nice Solstice breakfast (I'm thinking eggs and mushrooms...) then maybe I'll get the kid up so we can open gifts (yes, being Pagan does mean that many less shopping days til that big December holiday!) and then it's time to settle into work.... Happy Winter Solstice!!(and if you happen to be on the other side of the world, Happy Summer Solstice!)
May this season of JoyKindle the Fire of Love in your heartsRegardless of yourReligionPath orPhilosophyHelen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 21, 2011
Touching Video on a VERY Important Subject
We all love those silly cats with cheese burgers (okay, I don't, but I like nyan cat so...)this however, is something far more seriousfar more importantand touches the livesof far more people around the world:
Please take a moment to get involved and sign a petitionhttp://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6535/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=9086I don't honestly know how good these petitions do, but hopefully if our legislators see enough names, they'll be more motivated to do the right thing.
Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
Books are in the Mail!
Or should that be the males are in the mail?
I got my shipment from Lulu (the fanfiction books), got everything signed and off to the post office with my WONDERFUL husband (please feel free to express your gratitude to him for braving the post office four days before Christmas!)
It is highly unlikely that anyone will see their books before the holidays, but they ARE on their way. If for any reason you don't recieve your book/s after the beginning of the year, drop me a line. (The book headed to Germany will no doubt take a while longer).
Please, please, please remember my chat on Saturday. Please don't leave me drinking eggnog all by myself....we know what happens when I drink too much eggnog all by myself, right??
So join me Christmas Eve from 1pm to 6pm (or -5 GMT) here?
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/45452.Dreamspinner_PressHelen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
I got my shipment from Lulu (the fanfiction books), got everything signed and off to the post office with my WONDERFUL husband (please feel free to express your gratitude to him for braving the post office four days before Christmas!)
It is highly unlikely that anyone will see their books before the holidays, but they ARE on their way. If for any reason you don't recieve your book/s after the beginning of the year, drop me a line. (The book headed to Germany will no doubt take a while longer).
Please, please, please remember my chat on Saturday. Please don't leave me drinking eggnog all by myself....we know what happens when I drink too much eggnog all by myself, right??
So join me Christmas Eve from 1pm to 6pm (or -5 GMT) here?
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/45452.Dreamspinner_PressHelen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 19, 2011
Stuff Your Stockings Winners
THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by my blog and entered to win a signed copy of Heart's Home and holiday ornament.The response was so overwhelming that I have two announcements:
1) I decided to pull TWO winners instead of just one. the recipiants of books and ornaments are:
Eva (from Arizona)
&Monica (from Selangor) (which I had to Google to find out where it is!)
I'll be getting your books and goodies
into the mail TOMORROW (Tuesday).
2) I have already signed up for the Valentine's Day Blog Hop! I'll post a proper link as we get closer to Valentine's day. I will be offering up another chance to win a copy of Heart's Home (seems appropriate!) and another.... something. I'll come up with a good little something as we get a little closer. (Right now, I'm just trying to get through December!)
Last but not least, I copies of my book sitting in my living room; if anyone who didn't win would like to purchase a signed copy from me, drop me an email; you can use either one (but thylacine.yawn@gmail.com is the email I check daily. The other I only use for contests, resumes... official stuff.)
Please check the Events listing on the side panel for updates on contests, conventions I'm going to, and chats I'm doing...gosh, me, me, me, here I am one week a published author and already I sound like I'm full of myself!
Happy Holidays Everyone!!Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 17, 2011
Wassail
If you're here looking for information on the Blog Hop, skip on down to the next postor look to the right for the Stuff Your Stockings Giveaway button.
***
I'm heading to a holiday party later today, to join the other members of the local genre writers group, together with the members of the literary writers group to celebrate the season, good cheer, good company, and good food.
In the spirit of sharing one of my favorite dishes, I'm bringing wassail. To celebrate THAT, here are some of my favorite wassail songs/old carols. Fear not, no tentacles here... although I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of seeing a boar's head on the table...
Of course, as soon as I volunteered to bring wassail, I was immediate asked:What the HECK is that?
So allow me to share my recipe--bear in mind that my measurements aren't exactly exact:About 2/3 gallon GOOD apple cider (juice will NOT do)1 bottle of quality beer2 oranges1 apple sometime I add a pear, tooI was feeling super lazy...and I've got some pretty awesome "Five Spice" mix on hand (Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, fennel, and anise)so about 3 Tablespoons of that another teaspoon of whole allspice (powdered is fine, whole is what I had in my cupboard)(you can adjust those amounts to taste)About half a cup of brown sugar (I like sweet wassail)a few cinnamon sticks (mostly for decoration)put it all in a slow cooker and simmer on very low heatI'm letting mine go all day...
Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
***
I'm heading to a holiday party later today, to join the other members of the local genre writers group, together with the members of the literary writers group to celebrate the season, good cheer, good company, and good food.
In the spirit of sharing one of my favorite dishes, I'm bringing wassail. To celebrate THAT, here are some of my favorite wassail songs/old carols. Fear not, no tentacles here... although I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of seeing a boar's head on the table...
Of course, as soon as I volunteered to bring wassail, I was immediate asked:What the HECK is that?
So allow me to share my recipe--bear in mind that my measurements aren't exactly exact:About 2/3 gallon GOOD apple cider (juice will NOT do)1 bottle of quality beer2 oranges1 apple sometime I add a pear, tooI was feeling super lazy...and I've got some pretty awesome "Five Spice" mix on hand (Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, fennel, and anise)so about 3 Tablespoons of that another teaspoon of whole allspice (powdered is fine, whole is what I had in my cupboard)(you can adjust those amounts to taste)About half a cup of brown sugar (I like sweet wassail)a few cinnamon sticks (mostly for decoration)put it all in a slow cooker and simmer on very low heatI'm letting mine go all day...
Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 16, 2011
Heart's Home officially for sale today!
I've officially been moved from the "Coming Soon" Page to the "New Releases" page over at Dreamspinner!! I'm not on Amazon yet--but it seriously only is 5am. I know I'll be there eventually (and I have no idea how long it actually takes to get books listed there, I just know that I *will* be there).
And... don't forget that today kicks off the Blog Hop Giveaway!
For the next three days 195 aweseom-cool authors
are giving away all KINDS of goodies.
I'm offering up one signed copy of Heart's Home, PLUS a handmade holiday ornament.
to enter, all you have to do is send an email to me at: helenpattskyn@gmail.com and put something in the subject lineabout the Blog Hop Giveaway.
(Don't forget to include your
snail mail address with your
email! International entries welcome.)
On Dec. 19, I'll draw a random winner out ofthe hat and announce them here.
Good luck!Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
And... don't forget that today kicks off the Blog Hop Giveaway!
For the next three days 195 aweseom-cool authors
are giving away all KINDS of goodies.
I'm offering up one signed copy of Heart's Home, PLUS a handmade holiday ornament.
to enter, all you have to do is send an email to me at: helenpattskyn@gmail.com and put something in the subject lineabout the Blog Hop Giveaway.
(Don't forget to include your
snail mail address with your
email! International entries welcome.)
On Dec. 19, I'll draw a random winner out ofthe hat and announce them here.
Good luck!Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 15, 2011
Some of Helen's favorite holiday songs...
Normally, I don't like listening to little kids singingbut seriously, this is awesome!Maybe this little one saw HER mommy kissingYog-Sothoth too... it would certainly explain a lot.
Yes, I am a twisted puppy.But you knew that already,right??
Please check out the H.P.Lovecraft Historical SocietyWebsiteand support their workby buying an album.Don't just rip off youtube vids.
No, I didn't just rip off youtube vids.I own a couple of albums from the HPLHS.
Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
Yes, I am a twisted puppy.But you knew that already,right??
Please check out the H.P.Lovecraft Historical SocietyWebsiteand support their workby buying an album.Don't just rip off youtube vids.
No, I didn't just rip off youtube vids.I own a couple of albums from the HPLHS.
Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 11, 2011
Heart's Home Pre Publication Winners!!
Thank you to everyone who entered the
Heart's Home pre-publication Give Away
What a great way to kick off the holiday season! I love gifts.
I love getting them (who doesn't??), but I really like giving them, too.
So for me, this is a really, really great way to start off one of
my favorite holiday seasons.
See, Christmas itself might not be my holiday (newsflash, I'm Pagan! Just in case you hadn't figured that out all on your own...) anyway, even though Christmas isn't my holiday on a deep and personal level, I have always loved this time of year. Yes, the days are getting SOOO short, but that's okay, because pretty soon, they'll be getting long again. We call it Mid-Winter for a reason. It's the middle of winter; winter is now officially on its way out (unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, then, sorry, for you winter is on it's way...sigh. It's a cycle).
I love putting up the tree (a very Pagan thing symbol), putting the Nutcracker into the DVD player (it's the same version they used to play on PBS when I was a kid, with Mikhail Baryshnikov) and because I'm a little bit twisted, dragging out the H.P. Lovecraft inspired carols (those of you who are my Facebook friends have probably seen the ones I've posted.)
And honestly, when a total stranger wishes me a Merry Christmas, I wish them one right back. So what if it isn't my holiday? It's the thought that counts.
* * *
PLEASE: Take note of the "December Events" that has been added to the side panel...there's lots of information there that just might be important...
* * *
By now everyone who entered the pre-publication drawing should have received their Holiday Card (except for the one person who neglected to send me her snail mail... you know who you are. Your name went into the hat anyway... hopefully you've seen your email by now.)
And the Give Away Winners are:
2nd place:
Megan, Debbie, and J.W.
will get a paperback copy of The Bonny Welshman & the Ossuary, with a couple of never before seen short stories
1st place:
Lynn and Kitsa
will receive that plus a copy of Heart's Home...
Please remember that I'm at the mercy of Lulu and my publisher, respectivelybut as soon as I get copies of the books in my hand to sign and mail, I'll get them out to you!
If you didn't win and would like a second chance at a copy of Heart's Home, check out the Blog Hop "Stuff Your Stockings" Give Away
(http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/) I'm giving away ONE signed copy of Heart's Home and a nifty tree ornament, made by yours truly! (the link will stay up in a side panel until the 18th)
The rules are the same: STARTING on December 16, send me your name and snail mail addy to helenpattskyn@gmail.com with something in the subject line about the Blog Hop Give Away On the 19th,
I'll draw names out of a hat and announce the winners here.
And don't forget that I'm only one of 195 participating authors!
Check out all of their blogs, too, for chances to win all kinds of cool stuff!
If this one is a success for me (i.e., I get lots of people vying for copies of my book), I might get in on the Valentine's Day Blog Hop Give Away, too.Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
Heart's Home pre-publication Give Away
What a great way to kick off the holiday season! I love gifts.
I love getting them (who doesn't??), but I really like giving them, too.
So for me, this is a really, really great way to start off one of
my favorite holiday seasons.
See, Christmas itself might not be my holiday (newsflash, I'm Pagan! Just in case you hadn't figured that out all on your own...) anyway, even though Christmas isn't my holiday on a deep and personal level, I have always loved this time of year. Yes, the days are getting SOOO short, but that's okay, because pretty soon, they'll be getting long again. We call it Mid-Winter for a reason. It's the middle of winter; winter is now officially on its way out (unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, then, sorry, for you winter is on it's way...sigh. It's a cycle).
I love putting up the tree (a very Pagan thing symbol), putting the Nutcracker into the DVD player (it's the same version they used to play on PBS when I was a kid, with Mikhail Baryshnikov) and because I'm a little bit twisted, dragging out the H.P. Lovecraft inspired carols (those of you who are my Facebook friends have probably seen the ones I've posted.)
And honestly, when a total stranger wishes me a Merry Christmas, I wish them one right back. So what if it isn't my holiday? It's the thought that counts.
* * *
PLEASE: Take note of the "December Events" that has been added to the side panel...there's lots of information there that just might be important...
* * *
By now everyone who entered the pre-publication drawing should have received their Holiday Card (except for the one person who neglected to send me her snail mail... you know who you are. Your name went into the hat anyway... hopefully you've seen your email by now.)
And the Give Away Winners are:
2nd place:
Megan, Debbie, and J.W.
will get a paperback copy of The Bonny Welshman & the Ossuary, with a couple of never before seen short stories
1st place:
Lynn and Kitsa
will receive that plus a copy of Heart's Home...
Please remember that I'm at the mercy of Lulu and my publisher, respectivelybut as soon as I get copies of the books in my hand to sign and mail, I'll get them out to you!
If you didn't win and would like a second chance at a copy of Heart's Home, check out the Blog Hop "Stuff Your Stockings" Give Away
(http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/) I'm giving away ONE signed copy of Heart's Home and a nifty tree ornament, made by yours truly! (the link will stay up in a side panel until the 18th)
The rules are the same: STARTING on December 16, send me your name and snail mail addy to helenpattskyn@gmail.com with something in the subject line about the Blog Hop Give Away On the 19th,
I'll draw names out of a hat and announce the winners here.
And don't forget that I'm only one of 195 participating authors!
Check out all of their blogs, too, for chances to win all kinds of cool stuff!
If this one is a success for me (i.e., I get lots of people vying for copies of my book), I might get in on the Valentine's Day Blog Hop Give Away, too.Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 8, 2011
On Writing Romance
Romance is a formula genre. That is to say, generally speaking romance novels follow a pattern. Everybody knows it, and the genders of the players doesn't really matter.
Person A meets Person B. Their eyes lock across a crowded room... or some friend introduces them... or one they reach of the last box of Oreo cookies on the store shelf at the same time, and before you know it, sparks are flying. Of course, if that's all there was, it would be a pretty short story. No. Something has to get in between them. It can be an ex or even current lover/spouse, a Big Problem, like drug addiction or some friend who keeps interfering, or whatever. But there is always An Obstacle to overcome.
And they do.
And live Happily Ever After.
(There are some exceptions to the HEA rule, but I don't read those.)
So everyone knows several things going into a romance: the characters WILL fall in love and they WILL overcome whatever the writer throws in their way.
The challenge then for the writer becomes to make the ride interesting enough for the reader to keep reading even though she (or he) knows how the book is going to end. There have to be twists and turns along the way that surprise--but not shock--the reader. Most romance readers, at least I presume, don't read to be shocked. We (because I'm as much a reader as I am a writer) want a certain level of "predictable". I crave Happily Ever after. I simply do not read bittersweet. If I want a book with an ending I can't even begin to guess at, I read some other genre, or pick up a literary novel.
The challenge to the writer (in every genre) is also to make characters that the reader cares about. In romance, I want characters I can connect to and fall in love with. I want to be drawn into the story, so I'm crying and laughing and feeling that fluttery feeling in my stomach as the characters progress from that first meeting to that eventual white picket fence.
Which isn't to say characters are perfect. Just like real people, they leave their dirty coffee cups all over the house and don't have the faintest idea what a coaster is for. They're fully rounded. Human.
Even if he happens to be a werewolf or an alien.
So, when somebody tells me that writing romance is "easy", I just smile and nod. If they only knew... my job is to follow the formula that readers expect and STILL make it fresh and entertaining.
On the suggestion of another writer, I just picked up Amy Lane's Living Promises, and I've gotta say that so far I'm loving it. (Of course I think I'd do better if I'd read Promise Rock first. There are a lot of secondary characters that I don't know as well as I might like. I'm going to have to go back and pick up Promise Rock, which I'd glossed over but not put on my wish list.
But Living Promises is a good example of what makes a romance a great read. I know there will be a happy ending. I know that Jeff will get over his emotional baggage and let Collin into his heart. I don't know how, but I know the end will make me happy because within two chapters, I'm in love with both boys and I *want* them to have a happy ending.
Oh, and I love Jeff's kitties. ;-)
Sigh. And now I'm off to work.
This weekend is going to be spent working on the ghost book... it's seriously feeling like a "real" job!Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
Person A meets Person B. Their eyes lock across a crowded room... or some friend introduces them... or one they reach of the last box of Oreo cookies on the store shelf at the same time, and before you know it, sparks are flying. Of course, if that's all there was, it would be a pretty short story. No. Something has to get in between them. It can be an ex or even current lover/spouse, a Big Problem, like drug addiction or some friend who keeps interfering, or whatever. But there is always An Obstacle to overcome.
And they do.
And live Happily Ever After.
(There are some exceptions to the HEA rule, but I don't read those.)
So everyone knows several things going into a romance: the characters WILL fall in love and they WILL overcome whatever the writer throws in their way.
The challenge then for the writer becomes to make the ride interesting enough for the reader to keep reading even though she (or he) knows how the book is going to end. There have to be twists and turns along the way that surprise--but not shock--the reader. Most romance readers, at least I presume, don't read to be shocked. We (because I'm as much a reader as I am a writer) want a certain level of "predictable". I crave Happily Ever after. I simply do not read bittersweet. If I want a book with an ending I can't even begin to guess at, I read some other genre, or pick up a literary novel.
The challenge to the writer (in every genre) is also to make characters that the reader cares about. In romance, I want characters I can connect to and fall in love with. I want to be drawn into the story, so I'm crying and laughing and feeling that fluttery feeling in my stomach as the characters progress from that first meeting to that eventual white picket fence.
Which isn't to say characters are perfect. Just like real people, they leave their dirty coffee cups all over the house and don't have the faintest idea what a coaster is for. They're fully rounded. Human.
Even if he happens to be a werewolf or an alien.
So, when somebody tells me that writing romance is "easy", I just smile and nod. If they only knew... my job is to follow the formula that readers expect and STILL make it fresh and entertaining.
On the suggestion of another writer, I just picked up Amy Lane's Living Promises, and I've gotta say that so far I'm loving it. (Of course I think I'd do better if I'd read Promise Rock first. There are a lot of secondary characters that I don't know as well as I might like. I'm going to have to go back and pick up Promise Rock, which I'd glossed over but not put on my wish list.
But Living Promises is a good example of what makes a romance a great read. I know there will be a happy ending. I know that Jeff will get over his emotional baggage and let Collin into his heart. I don't know how, but I know the end will make me happy because within two chapters, I'm in love with both boys and I *want* them to have a happy ending.
Oh, and I love Jeff's kitties. ;-)
Sigh. And now I'm off to work.
This weekend is going to be spent working on the ghost book... it's seriously feeling like a "real" job!Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
December 6, 2011
In the Drawer...
Bound to Serve, my BDSM/kink themed Work In Progress is officially "in the drawer" for at least a month while I get caught up the ghost book...and start in on a new Work In Progress!
Being in the drawer means I'm not going to look at something for a while. See, when I'm working on it, I think something is amazing... well, actually, I go through this roller coaster ride with it. When I start out, I love it. Then I get to a point where I hate it. With Bound to Please, I also hit a point where I was so unsure of it, that I totally shelved it for months... then I dragged it back out again and was still unsure, so I sent 20,000 words to another writer for a "gut check" (thanks, Tia!!!!!) It passed muster (a light perusal to assure me that no, it wasn't awful, yes, I was on track, yes, I could probably sell it once it was done and polished.) I also submitted a couple of chapters to my critique group and got some good feedback, most of which I won't put into place until I start the first round of heavy editing.
I'm one of those who ignores the rules of not editing as I go. I read and review as I write, but the really heavy editing doesn't start until I've finished the "first" draft (which is more of a third or fourth draft). But before I can get into the "serious editing" phase, I let it sit "in the drawer".
Why?
Because in order to edit, a writer has to be able to put some distance between themselves and the word son the page. (Christine, one of my fellow critique group members, just sent out a wonderful article on the subject. Some of it was stuff I'd heard already--or figured out through trial and error, myself!)
There are a number of ways to distance yourself from what you've written. The first and most basic is time. Put your finished masterpiece in a drawer for a month and see how perfect it is when you next look at it--fair warning, it can be painful. Suddenly it's not perfect at all, it's full of glaring logic problems, plot holes, missing words... oy. Awful. But that's okay. That's what the editing round is for. Usually after I edit something to death, I put it BACK in the drawer for a little while before giving it a "final" go-over (or two, or three). This round is (or should be) far less painful. Missing words, minor leaps of logic, fuzzy sentences, inconsistencies (is her name Christie or Christi, is it Jamie or Jamey?)... that sort of thing.
Other ways to gain some distance from your writing is to change the font and font size. It sounds silly, but works. Looking at something a different type setting really helps the mistakes leap off the page and into your face--which is where you want them. (No, really, you don't want the editor--or worse yet, your readers--to see those glaring mistakes!)
Some writers like to print off their work and read it as hardy-copy. I tried that, but I really didn't like it much. Too much wasted paper. Remember, I write novel length.
There's also the old tried and true method of reading it aloud. I don't do that with the whole book, but if I've got a sentence that just isn't working, I read it aloud--taking into account punctuation--over and over until I get it right. No, not while I'm at the coffee shop. Usually. ;-D
And of course, handing it off to a trusted beta reader is invaluable. So is joining a critique group. ;-) Most groups aren't structured to read one member's entire novel length manuscript, but having your head handed to you on a platter over one chapter will certainly get you pointed in the right direction to fixing the problems in subsequent chapters! I also find that I learn a lot during other people's critiques, as I ask myself "hmmmm.... do I do that?" Critiquing other writers' work is also a great experience and helps any writer grown and become better at their craft.
So, Bound to Please is in the drawer for a bit, and I've got a new one I'm working on. This one is vaguely inspired by my job--but not on any deep and personal level, even though I have made my main protagonist (I'm writing in a single POV again--start looking for those four guys on horses, folks, Helen is embracing single character POV!) A-hem. As I was saying my main protagonist is a 30 year old waiter--or actually a waiter and a cook. He's the owner's son, Pasha (see, I said it wasn't that personal). His family is Russian (duh, the name Pasha should have given that away)--which gives me a chance to use words like "paskoodnik". I really don't know exactly what it means, I can only use it in context the same way my grandmother did. (It's an insult, but she didn't tend to swear, so I don't think it's quite as bad as calling someone an asshat, although the sentiment is about the same).
My anticipation is that it won't take too long to write; the plot is pretty straightforward, the bulk of the drama comes from family dynamics and dysfunction... although there is something going on with the older brother. My characters haven't told me what that something is yet, I just know that Alexi exists and that the immediate family hasn't seen him in a long time. He's not a spy or a member of the mob or anything dramatic on that level, but there is... something. I'm sure Pasha will tell me about his brother when he's ready. Right now, he's just happy to have met Daniel, a delivery truck driver who got lost and ended up at Pasha's dad's restaurant. Not that anybody meets Mr. Right in a restaurant parking lot, right? Heh.
Now: here's where I'm asking for some help:
I don't have so much as a working title. Anybody got any brilliant ideas? I promise some sort of cool goodie if I use your title idea, even if it only ends up being a working title. No, I have no idea what that goodie might be, I just thought it might be fun to ask, and see what kinds of suggestions I get! (There is one catch; I don't want to use the word "service" in the title; I'm planning on writing a sequel to Bound to Please that's going to be called Bound to Serve. Yeah, I know, here I am planning a sequel and I haven't even sold the first book yet! But you've gotta stay positive, right?)
So here we go, the
Your Title Here Contest:
okay, so clearly, nobody's ever going to hire me to do graphic layout, but in my defense, I was kind of handicapped by the images readily available online... I do *not* recommend typing "sexy waiter" into your favorite search engine! Yuck. I mean, all right, some of the waitresses that came up were cute, but most of the waiters were either dopy looking, half naked muscle gods (not a bad thing, but not what I wanted), or just plain scary looking guys! The one with the uber mustache freaked me right out. So I settled on a celebrity and chopped off his head! At least he has Pasha's build and is probably about the right age.
Just to recap, Pasha is a cute Russian waiter, age 30, working in the family diner and not happy there. Dad doesn't know he's gay--not that he has any good romantic prospects looming on the horizan anyway...until he meets Daniel, right in his own parking lot! Daniel is a hunky delivery truck driver who hefts 160 kegs of beer for a living--and of course he's immediately smitten with Pasha. Pasha's a doll, who wouldn't be? (You'll just have to take my word on that, but it's true, he's a sweetheart). Best guestimate is that it'll run about 60,000-70,000 words and be ready to submit sometime next summer--assuming nothing unexpected happens, like I find a full time library job! If someone helps me come up with the "perfect" title, they definitely get a public thank you and some other token of my appreciation (bearing in mind that I'm a poor waitress myself, with little to offer but my love and gratitude.)
Please leave your ideas as a "comment" below. I love comments.Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
Being in the drawer means I'm not going to look at something for a while. See, when I'm working on it, I think something is amazing... well, actually, I go through this roller coaster ride with it. When I start out, I love it. Then I get to a point where I hate it. With Bound to Please, I also hit a point where I was so unsure of it, that I totally shelved it for months... then I dragged it back out again and was still unsure, so I sent 20,000 words to another writer for a "gut check" (thanks, Tia!!!!!) It passed muster (a light perusal to assure me that no, it wasn't awful, yes, I was on track, yes, I could probably sell it once it was done and polished.) I also submitted a couple of chapters to my critique group and got some good feedback, most of which I won't put into place until I start the first round of heavy editing.
I'm one of those who ignores the rules of not editing as I go. I read and review as I write, but the really heavy editing doesn't start until I've finished the "first" draft (which is more of a third or fourth draft). But before I can get into the "serious editing" phase, I let it sit "in the drawer".
Why?
Because in order to edit, a writer has to be able to put some distance between themselves and the word son the page. (Christine, one of my fellow critique group members, just sent out a wonderful article on the subject. Some of it was stuff I'd heard already--or figured out through trial and error, myself!)
There are a number of ways to distance yourself from what you've written. The first and most basic is time. Put your finished masterpiece in a drawer for a month and see how perfect it is when you next look at it--fair warning, it can be painful. Suddenly it's not perfect at all, it's full of glaring logic problems, plot holes, missing words... oy. Awful. But that's okay. That's what the editing round is for. Usually after I edit something to death, I put it BACK in the drawer for a little while before giving it a "final" go-over (or two, or three). This round is (or should be) far less painful. Missing words, minor leaps of logic, fuzzy sentences, inconsistencies (is her name Christie or Christi, is it Jamie or Jamey?)... that sort of thing.
Other ways to gain some distance from your writing is to change the font and font size. It sounds silly, but works. Looking at something a different type setting really helps the mistakes leap off the page and into your face--which is where you want them. (No, really, you don't want the editor--or worse yet, your readers--to see those glaring mistakes!)
Some writers like to print off their work and read it as hardy-copy. I tried that, but I really didn't like it much. Too much wasted paper. Remember, I write novel length.
There's also the old tried and true method of reading it aloud. I don't do that with the whole book, but if I've got a sentence that just isn't working, I read it aloud--taking into account punctuation--over and over until I get it right. No, not while I'm at the coffee shop. Usually. ;-D
And of course, handing it off to a trusted beta reader is invaluable. So is joining a critique group. ;-) Most groups aren't structured to read one member's entire novel length manuscript, but having your head handed to you on a platter over one chapter will certainly get you pointed in the right direction to fixing the problems in subsequent chapters! I also find that I learn a lot during other people's critiques, as I ask myself "hmmmm.... do I do that?" Critiquing other writers' work is also a great experience and helps any writer grown and become better at their craft.
So, Bound to Please is in the drawer for a bit, and I've got a new one I'm working on. This one is vaguely inspired by my job--but not on any deep and personal level, even though I have made my main protagonist (I'm writing in a single POV again--start looking for those four guys on horses, folks, Helen is embracing single character POV!) A-hem. As I was saying my main protagonist is a 30 year old waiter--or actually a waiter and a cook. He's the owner's son, Pasha (see, I said it wasn't that personal). His family is Russian (duh, the name Pasha should have given that away)--which gives me a chance to use words like "paskoodnik". I really don't know exactly what it means, I can only use it in context the same way my grandmother did. (It's an insult, but she didn't tend to swear, so I don't think it's quite as bad as calling someone an asshat, although the sentiment is about the same).
My anticipation is that it won't take too long to write; the plot is pretty straightforward, the bulk of the drama comes from family dynamics and dysfunction... although there is something going on with the older brother. My characters haven't told me what that something is yet, I just know that Alexi exists and that the immediate family hasn't seen him in a long time. He's not a spy or a member of the mob or anything dramatic on that level, but there is... something. I'm sure Pasha will tell me about his brother when he's ready. Right now, he's just happy to have met Daniel, a delivery truck driver who got lost and ended up at Pasha's dad's restaurant. Not that anybody meets Mr. Right in a restaurant parking lot, right? Heh.
Now: here's where I'm asking for some help:
I don't have so much as a working title. Anybody got any brilliant ideas? I promise some sort of cool goodie if I use your title idea, even if it only ends up being a working title. No, I have no idea what that goodie might be, I just thought it might be fun to ask, and see what kinds of suggestions I get! (There is one catch; I don't want to use the word "service" in the title; I'm planning on writing a sequel to Bound to Please that's going to be called Bound to Serve. Yeah, I know, here I am planning a sequel and I haven't even sold the first book yet! But you've gotta stay positive, right?)
So here we go, the
Your Title Here Contest:
okay, so clearly, nobody's ever going to hire me to do graphic layout, but in my defense, I was kind of handicapped by the images readily available online... I do *not* recommend typing "sexy waiter" into your favorite search engine! Yuck. I mean, all right, some of the waitresses that came up were cute, but most of the waiters were either dopy looking, half naked muscle gods (not a bad thing, but not what I wanted), or just plain scary looking guys! The one with the uber mustache freaked me right out. So I settled on a celebrity and chopped off his head! At least he has Pasha's build and is probably about the right age.
Just to recap, Pasha is a cute Russian waiter, age 30, working in the family diner and not happy there. Dad doesn't know he's gay--not that he has any good romantic prospects looming on the horizan anyway...until he meets Daniel, right in his own parking lot! Daniel is a hunky delivery truck driver who hefts 160 kegs of beer for a living--and of course he's immediately smitten with Pasha. Pasha's a doll, who wouldn't be? (You'll just have to take my word on that, but it's true, he's a sweetheart). Best guestimate is that it'll run about 60,000-70,000 words and be ready to submit sometime next summer--assuming nothing unexpected happens, like I find a full time library job! If someone helps me come up with the "perfect" title, they definitely get a public thank you and some other token of my appreciation (bearing in mind that I'm a poor waitress myself, with little to offer but my love and gratitude.)
Please leave your ideas as a "comment" below. I love comments.Helen Pattskyn, Fantasy Artist, Gay Romance Author
