Passion: Presents Style (2)

Hi Wayne,

I always love a nice new room to post in.

Waves to everyone.

Chris.

How great to have a nice new - clean - room  - now just watch us all mess it up!

Thaks Wayne.

Hi Chris - do you still plan to go to SF so i can say 'see you soon'?
And Hi Janet. I'm so delighted that Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife made it on to your keeper shelf - that makes me

I just dropped by to say that I posted a short blog on eHarl about the launch of the M&B Centenary Exhibition that I went to last week. I couldn't post all my photos though so there are more pix (including the two  romance 'heroes' who showed everyone round)  on my personal blog if you want to see them.

 Hope everyone soon finds our nice new thread
Kate

Passion: Presents moves! And then it takes me an age and a  half to successfully log in and find my way back (am I the only one still struggling with this new format???)

Sorry to be absent for so long. Had a busy few weeks finishing ms, then the RWAustralia Romance Roadshows, then revisions, so it feels like I've been gone forever, though have been trying to keep up along the way.

But revisions went in last night (phew) and I have a wee chance to draw breath. Anne, I love those no revision books - good on you for nailing it first time! Unfortunately this wasn't one of them for me but that happens too. It does make you appreciate those no revision manuscripts though. Always a positive.

Can't believe it's already June - and just about mid way.  Next month is Nationals and the month after the Aussie conference and the month after that I'll be in London for AMBA! What's that about another book before then?

But it is so nice to come out and play for a wee while.

Lovely to see you all again

Trish

*grins at the subject line*  Could I be any more hesitant? 

Heh.  Do all fans of HPs eventually get the urge to write themselves?  I have been a mega reader of HPs ever since I first stumbled over a box of them.  And I've barely been a member of this forum three months and here I am biting the dust, tempted to write.  I'm getting the urge, I've got an idea for a story in my head.  (Not the first time I've got the urge, but I would rather be a happy reader then a bad writer, so I've never really stuck it out and finished a story) 

I'm not a writer, I've never produced anything start-to-finish longer than an essay or short story for school.  (I'm a recent graduate)  I've gotten the urge to write before and started in on a handful of stories, writing basically my ideas for the plot of the whole book, and specific scenes.  The most I've written in one story was 13 000 words.  I usually start because I get this idea in my head for my "ideal story" (I'm a picky reader who likes things a certain way), but then I start thinking that I'm not doing justice to the story and that it's not forming properly (there's too many holes and things I've done wrong). 

I think if I want to be able to write a story from start to finish, then I need to take a different approach, and really plot out how I want the book to go, chapter by chapter, noting the major plot points I want to hit. 

Could I get some advice about getting started?  I am not aiming for getting published here, I just am feeling frustrated and want to develop the story in my head.  I'm curious about how other people went from thinking about writing to actually getting their ideas down on paper in a cohesive manner. 

I've got to admit I'm probably one of the most rabid readers around.  I consume books.  I am quick to jump from book to book.  My general style of chatting on the net is "type first, think later".  That probably doesn't bode well for my patience or writing style when/if I ever settle on fleshing out an idea and making it a story. 

Hey Annie!  Thanks for the encouragement.  I am hesitant for sure.  And yeah, I have been kicking around ideas for years.  I don't think I could have seriously written anything during high school or university, so yeah, it's probably best nothing came of those early ideas.  Probably shameful to re-read 'em now.   

As for the best way to proceed, it varies enormously from writer to writer. Some people plan meticulously - chapter by chapter and scene by scene before they start. Others dive in and work out how it goes as it happens. Others are somewhere in between - a mixture of impulse and planning.

Yeah....  i think I need to be meticulous at first here.  Have some structure in mind, so that I know what to aim for.  A problem with another story I was trying was that every thousand words I started changing the plot and introduced a twist that conflicted with or changed the direction of the character's lives and their story.  

One thing to focus on before you start is the nature of the conflict between the characters. The story will work best if you have a strong conflict between hero and heroine - not an argument, but something that holds them back from each other (even if circumstances drive them together). If that conflict is rooted in character it will be really strong and believable.

That is important!  Know your characters and know what's keeping them apart.  Make it believable. Good advice!

I started out today just jotting down a bunch of questions I wanted to have answers for before I started in....   I just started with the basics.  I feel like I could keep going and have 100 questions answered before I know who the characters are, why they broke up in the past, and how they are going to get back together. 

- How did they meet?

- Why were they together years ago?  

- How long were they together for years ago?  It must be long enough for true feelings of love to grow, for them to truly get to know each other, so that even 3-5 years down the road they have not been able to move on from the love they shared. 

- What stages of their lives were they at years ago?  Age?  Career?  School?  Class and money? 

- Did her family approve of the relationship between H/h?

- Did they talk about marriage?  Were promises made or implied?  Were they broken and trust/expectations were let down?

- Why did they break up?  According to her?  According to him?  Who is perceived to be at fault?

- What happened after the break up?  Did they go their separate ways to new cities, new jobs?

- Was there a miscarriage? 

- How many years pass?  Why do they wait this many years to see each other again?  What purpose do the years apart serve?  Is there personal growth that makes it worthwhile, which makes them stronger people and better able to form a lasting relationship in the present?

- What is he/she doing now?  Career?  Family life?  What about their parents? 

- Who seeks out who in the present?  Is he or she the aggressor?  

- Why does she let him back into her life? 

- Does she forgive him or overlook his perceived faults?  She shouldn’t let him slide back into her life, it should be a conscious decision to have him any way she can, because now she knows what life is like without him and wants him. 

Janet, it sounds like you've got a comprehensive checklist to work through there. A great place to start. If you know your characters before you move too far into the story it will help enormously.

Trish - isn't it so true about the words not being as crisp and powerful as in your head? Glad that's not just me. But better to get the gist of it down and then fix it. It's impossible to fix a page with nothing on it.

Annie

You're starting from one of the best points  for a would-be writer - you read.  So often I get emails from, or talk to people who want to write romance (got one yesterday) and when  I ask what romance they read, they look blank as if I've asked the most impossible question.  It's scary the number of people who think that they can just write a romance because they're so easy to write and 'they're all the same'  How many times have we heard that, ladies (and Wayne! )

So reading romance, specially Presents, gives you such a great groudning in what the publishers are looking for, the type of story that works, the way to form a story of 55,000 words - and,   most of all how to create characters.

You've had some really great advice already -  I'm so in agreement with Annie's comments on conflict. That can be one of the hardest elements to get right in a romance.   And I sympathise with the way that the story in your head never quite matched the story that gets written down. Someone once said that the story you're  going to write is always better than the one you're writing now and I think that can be so true. Images in your head are so filmic, clear and dramatic and wonderful. Words can struggle to match those.

Trish thak you so much for recommending my  book. The 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance is in its second edition because the first one sold out. I've been thrilled by the response to this book. We had hoped to have it on sale at RWA San Francisco but I haven't been able to find out just who is  running the book stall.

 Chris, your husband is a real hero, going to that trouble for you. the 12PGTWR2 should have been on the shelves in Waterstones, but when I looked in  Manchester the other week I couldn't find any copies. It turned out that they'd had them but sold them (in both branches) so that was good news.

In America, I saw that Borders have the book on their lists so it's easy to order that way - and Barnes & Noble can order it easily too. The more people who order it, the more likely  it is that they will eventually stock it in the shops.  That would be the best for everyone who wants a copy - and for me!  But if anyone wants the details and to order it, just check out my web site where all the info you need is on there.

 Wayne - good luck with those grades.

 KateH  - I so agree with that sense of frustration, but as they say you can edit a rough page of writing - you can't edit the blank ones! Good luck with your edits

 Kate

I'm glad you enjoyed Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife. I don't have any plans to write about the 3 sons at the moment, although perhaps one day... 

 Kate 

Chris, good luck with the writing, and with getting hold of Kate's book - it's a real winner. Oh, how I wish I could jot down the words and discover they were perfect! Sometimes, yes, the words in a scene don't get changed too much but at other times...!

Trish, mega congratulations on 5 magnificent years with Harlequin Mills and Boon! Looking forward to plenty more. Already looking forward to your next book.

Wayne, best of luck with the school stress. Roll on holidays!

Must dash - dinner to cook and I have a hungry throng (well, small throng, but very hungry) already congregating in the kitchen.

Annie

Cheers everyone, and thanks Annie for your congrats. Rounded off a good anniversary week with a sale - my latest revised manuscript has been accepted and I have a new title - still to be finalised, but something to do with a prince, a bride and a love-child.

It's been a lovely week or so awaiting editor's opinion, while I've caught up on life, the universe and the ironing, but it looks like it's nose to the grindstone next week with no more excuses for housework. What a shame!

Hope everyone is having a fantabulous weekend!

Trish

Hi everyone,

Great to find you again, I was wondering why the old room was so quite.

Welcome Janet, you've had some great advice on writing. As long as you have a passion for it don't worry about what comes out on the page, just enjoy the journey. There's ups and downs which is why it's important to love what you're doing.

Wayne I wish I could share your holiday bliss, but I've just gotten used to my 4.y.o being at school and now he's going to demand entertainment from me every day for ten weeks.

ChrisM great to see you, I've been thinking about you and wondering what you've been up to.

Kate it's great news the 12pg is selling of the shelves, it deserves to!

Trish congrats on your sale and Annie hope the winter cold isn't setting in too much, we have sun today.

Me, I've been very busy working on my RNA NWS submission, a Presents full ms. This year I intend to meet my goal of getting something in early rather than taking it to the wire with the deadline.

And Wayne, of course!

Kate--I just wanted to say that I've been reading Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife and I love it.

I too, am beginning my writing career--though I'm not entirely sure which line yet.

Which brings me to my questions, for anyone really, how did you know Presents was for you? How did you pick the right line?

Thanks!

I hope I do too. I had thought Nocturne but I couldn't wrap my mind around that yet. My favorite lines are Desire, Presents, AR, Blaze, and Nocturne, so...I'm figuring one has to be close to my style.

I'll just sleep on it.

Carol, I could be wrong but I suspect that when we go to the next page you'll have the same problem and have to scroll through for the new posts Hopefully I'm wrong about that because I like coming straight to the new posts too.

Waves to all.

Chris.

Hi Lou, and welcome to the loop. Waving hi to everyone else, too.

Chris - 100 degrees? It sounds like mid summer. It's night here and though the sun shone it didn't warm too much - about 10 degrees C when I went outside - which I think equates to about 50 degrees F. Chilly for our coastal spot. Am wearing warm slippers, layers and have lit the fire. Now, if only I wasn't getting over a head cold I'd pour myself a nice glass of red. But the good news is it's great weather for reading. I've just finished Daisy's latest Spanish hero (I got a very early copy - wee!) and he's a stunner. What a terrific read! Look out for it in the UK in October. Actually, I just realised he's out the same month as my Khalid. Daisy - we'll be shelf buddies!

Lou, I feel for you, trying to decide which line to write for. It can be so hard and take so long deciding. I had the same problem and it kept me writing and unpublished for quite a few years. Of course, I might have remained unpublished anyway, while I improved my writing, but the fact that I was targetting the wrong lines certainly didn't help. I had really nice rejections pointing out all sorts of things the editors liked but I just didn't seem to fit. The trouble was I'd shied away from targetting Presents (except for my first ever ms and honestly that didn't count). I thought I wouldn't be able to do justice to the Presents promise, even though it was the line I loved best of all. Sitting down and writing the book that became 'A Mistress for the Taking' was so different for me as if just felt right - as if I was in the right zone at last.

My advice, for what it's worth, is to work out what line you love best of all. Which is the one that makes you FEEL the impact deep inside? Which is the line that you'd choose to take to your desert island, knowing that's all you could have. If it's the line that you connect with at a visceral level, I suspect that's the line for you. Easier said than done of course. It took me a few years to work that out.  But once I discovered I could write a decent alpha hero there was no looking back. Good luck with your writing and your choosing!

Annie

Betty, it has been quiet in here - I think we were waiting for you for the party to start. I'd blame it all on our cold temps downunder - like Annie said, it's pretty cool and the fire is certainly my best friend, but I guess it's a bit warmer up where you all are.

Carol, I hope that submission is working well and you'll have it done in plenty of time. It's such a fabulous opportunity to enter that contest. All the best!

Lou, as Annie said, working out where your voice fits is one of the most difficult things in this business, but certainly, finding out what you love to read is usually a great indication. Might be worthwhile entering a few romance writer contests too, as that can help hone in on where your voice fits.

I have my new title - Forced Wife, Royal Love-Child - and a release date of April 09 in both US and UK. Seems such a long time away but I know it will come around so quickly. How can it be the end of June already?

And just for fun, I received my latest Hebrew translation the other day, and I've put up the covers of the three I've had on my blog. Quite different, I think you'll find...

Have a great weekend everyone, wherever you are in the world,

Trish

Hi, everyone! I'm finally getting around to joining the community and popping up to say hello.

Hi, Chris. I am so looking forward to San Francisco! Thanks for asking.

Nothing to report on the book yet. I'm starting another one, though. :) Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Lynn

I meant to come in here  all week - honest i did - but life ran away with me . I'm just pooping my head round the door to wave hi and say I'm off to the RNA Conference so I won't be able to chat till Monday.

 But in a quick summary - if I can remember
Lou thank you for loving Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife. I wish i had time to chat about choosing lines but maybe when I get back

Chris  - give your husband a hug from me for his determination to get you your copy  of the 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance 2 (did anyone see the amazing review that VincePlato gave it in the Book Challenge reviews)

Welcome Lynn. I'll be in San Francisco too  so please come and say hello

 Trish - not long before we meet again. Can't wait! I know I owe you an email - but . . .life!

Off to pack

see you all next week

Kate

Lynne great to see you here. Hoping we'll be able to see the full of your competition entry in print soon.

Kate read your blog about conference season, enjoy the whirlwind. Sadly I'll be foregoing Chichester this year but I'm hoping to make next years one.

Chris - well done to your hubby and enjoy the book.

Good luck with the deadline Daisy and nice to see you.

Trish it has indeed been quite in here lately.

I should have gotten off my posterior and joined earlier! Everyone is so welcoming. Thank you.

Trish, Kate, and Abby: I look forward to meeting you all in San Fran! It's going to be so awesome to see everyone. I'm looking forward to this conference so much -- and yet, I'm beginning to panic too. I haven't finished my shopping, haven't dropped that last few pounds, etc. *sigh*

Carol, thank you! I certainly hope you get to read my full too. Because that would mean I did it right and I get to join the ranks of these lovely and talented ladies! Truly a dream come true if it happens.

Lynn

Great news on the Sicillian. Will look forward to getting my hands on him...

Congratulations on the latest addition to your growing and fabulous book list.

Sorry we won't see you in SF, but Melbourne is just around the corner! Will definitely catch up there!

Hope the RNA weekend went well. Look forward to the reports!

All best,

Trish

Hey Lynn, Kate, Wayne. :D Had to stop in and say hey!!! Hope everyone is having a good summer. It's HOT here in the south. LOL. It's been a long time but hoping I can keep up with everyone. :) I've missed you Kate, hope all is well!!