Why did I Begin to Write? By Connie Vines #Round Robin #08/18/2018
This month’s topic sent me down memory lane.
Yes, like most novelists, I penned stories at a young age, had the ferreting instincts of a seasoned reporter, and possessed a quirky way of looking at life (my writer’s voice). I know it annoyed my family, friends, and teachers. However, when anyone needed unbiased information, or a detailed replay of an event which had taken place in the long-ago-past, I was, and I still am, the go-to person.
As I’ve written before, I grew up in a nomadic, career naval family. Attending an average of three schools per year, made me an observer of people. So, it was only natural for me to have the building blocks for future fictional characters stored away in my subconscious. Knowing the life of a reporter was not a career for me (calls at 3:00 AM to drive to who-knows-where and see who-knows-what), I decided to write for magazines and other publications instead.
When my children were young, I wrote for Jr. Medical Detective, Humpty Dumpty Magazine, religious publications, and I had a column featuring writing-tips.
I joined Romance Writers of America when a close friend of mine (Thank you, Shirlee), suggested I attend a meeting in Orange County where her sister was co-president of the chapter. This was during the ‘golden-age’ of romance writing. I attended talks, workshops and screen writing classes—wonderful training grounds for genre fiction.
This is what brought me into the world of writing a 55.000 + word novel.
I still write short-stories and novellas, but the challenge of plotting a novel is something I enjoy. The opening hook, character motivation, plot-twists are exciting, even though the mental energy often results in sleepless nights. Still, the characters continue to speak to me. I am compelled to tell the story.
My first romance, under a pen-name, was published by Kensington Publishing under the Precious Gems imprint. We, Precious Gems, have kept in touch over the years.
We also have a blog titled, “Gems in the Attic” that we each contribute to (my blog is the 1st Monday of each month). Currently, nine of us have an eBook sampler titled “Love, Forever” downloadable for FREE.
https://www.amazon.com/Connie-Vines/e/B004C7W6PE
https://books2read.com/ap/n720JR/Connie-Vines
Please visit the other members of our Round Robin Blog and read what each one has to share!
Happy Reading!
Connie
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1ke
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Margaret Fieland http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
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Yes, like most novelists, I penned stories at a young age, had the ferreting instincts of a seasoned reporter, and possessed a quirky way of looking at life (my writer’s voice). I know it annoyed my family, friends, and teachers. However, when anyone needed unbiased information, or a detailed replay of an event which had taken place in the long-ago-past, I was, and I still am, the go-to person.
As I’ve written before, I grew up in a nomadic, career naval family. Attending an average of three schools per year, made me an observer of people. So, it was only natural for me to have the building blocks for future fictional characters stored away in my subconscious. Knowing the life of a reporter was not a career for me (calls at 3:00 AM to drive to who-knows-where and see who-knows-what), I decided to write for magazines and other publications instead.
When my children were young, I wrote for Jr. Medical Detective, Humpty Dumpty Magazine, religious publications, and I had a column featuring writing-tips.
I joined Romance Writers of America when a close friend of mine (Thank you, Shirlee), suggested I attend a meeting in Orange County where her sister was co-president of the chapter. This was during the ‘golden-age’ of romance writing. I attended talks, workshops and screen writing classes—wonderful training grounds for genre fiction.
This is what brought me into the world of writing a 55.000 + word novel.
I still write short-stories and novellas, but the challenge of plotting a novel is something I enjoy. The opening hook, character motivation, plot-twists are exciting, even though the mental energy often results in sleepless nights. Still, the characters continue to speak to me. I am compelled to tell the story.
My first romance, under a pen-name, was published by Kensington Publishing under the Precious Gems imprint. We, Precious Gems, have kept in touch over the years.
We also have a blog titled, “Gems in the Attic” that we each contribute to (my blog is the 1st Monday of each month). Currently, nine of us have an eBook sampler titled “Love, Forever” downloadable for FREE.
https://www.amazon.com/Connie-Vines/e/B004C7W6PE
https://books2read.com/ap/n720JR/Connie-Vines
Please visit the other members of our Round Robin Blog and read what each one has to share!
Happy Reading!
Connie
Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1ke
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Margaret Fieland http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
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