My Recent Comments

Hey all, if you go to Trish Wylie's blog www . trishwylie. blogspot . com you will see a youtube vid that is a parady of a Presents/Desire alpha hero!  It is bust a gut funny! It's on her May 18th post.

By the way, remove the spaces in the bloggie address :)

Melissa L.

Oh, that is so romantic Nini!!! Too cute too!

I can't wait to read the entries this week!  I skimmed a few comments and Saturday morning can't come soon enough.  I didn't give this challenge a go, even though I had an idea.  Had a really rough week with this whole pregnancy thing.  I don't want to belly-ache, but this belly is ACHING!!! Blah.

Misty, hope you are feeling better and kicking that flu to the curb.  Congratulations Lou for winning the book from chat hour.  And Nini, you are one lucky girl!!!

Melissa L.

Awesome advice, as usual.  BTW, watch out for lamp posts, LOL!  My sister lost a tooth in Halifax while walking and reading a map. 

Ugh, I am so torn!!!  I've got something on the go that is more a Romance/Presents sorta thing, but the idea of getting a crack at an editor's opinion is REALLY tempting!  I pulled out the old writer's needles and started brainstorming, but will it knit up nicely befor July 1st?  I don't know!  Blah

Anyone else considering the Desire pitch?  If so, how's it going?

here is the link to the info, just in case anyone hasn't seen it: http://community.eharlequin.com/content/3-ways-sell-rwa

And the podcast to what the editors for Desire are looking for:

http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?cid=749

Melissa L.

Welcome!  I'm a de-lurked newbie myself, LOL.  Loads of really talented people here.  Challenges are great to help get feedback and practice being creative but to the point.  You'll find out once you start that 1000 words ain't that much!

As for taking you away from the ms, yes, but being a writer is a solitary thing, and a little creative human contact feeds the soul, so it is a good trade.  What lines are you targeting?  What lines do you like to read?

Melissa L.

I do a lot of brainstorming on paper and am trying to figure out a plot board with the hero's journey but to write on paper?  I freeze!  My hat's off to you on that!

I'm a banker, but I'm thinking about teaching art on the side.  I have 2 university degrees, one focusing on English and the other Art.  Funny thing, I took the "upper thinking" classes and never learned me some grammer or much spellin' along the way.  Too wierd!  So I wouldn't say having a university/college degree is a huge bonus.  It just means you like to learn, stick to something and throw huge amounts of money at it with a smile.  But that can be said about a lot of other things in life as well!    Life can be the best teacher!  I agree with what everyone else is saying.  Keep at it!  And really study the line you are targeting.

My latest addiction:  Writing books.  Online writing courses from www. writersuniv. com and  www. writersonlineclasses .com   ..... really good stuff there.  And buying Presents from the new writers.  Hubby says I better get published one day soon 'cos the money made will cover the costs of my self imposed writing education!   (he's a banker too, poor boy)

Melissa L

 

Like Lindaloo said, "Yay to the winners and congratulations for everyone that posted!"  Great job Vince, writer2b and Anita Mae, and thanks you judges.  To me, this one was a hard one, both to write and to judge.  Excellent challenge!

My question to you all:  How do you write?  I write in time blocks because I have very little time to write and the process can be slow.  I seem to start with a general idea and jot it down.  I think about it while doing the life stuff.  Then I get back to it and write the dialogue.  I might put in the deep POV here or I do that on the next pass of it.  Then I consider who's POV the scene should be in and start adding the tag lines.  I'm not fond of "he said, she said" so I try to be creative here.  Then I add in my description.  These steps usually happen this way, even when I have a gloriously long stretch of time to write that is not interupted by the gathering and the dispensing of sippy cups, kissing boo boos, finding my fashion-repressed hubby's matching socks and chores.  Go Me!!  LOL

Anyway, that's how I do it.  How about you all?

 Melissa L.

“Com'on, Angel, what's wrong?”

 

Tell him.  Now.  Lying wrapped around him, every fibre of her being gloriously warmed by his heat, Angel hesitated.  “Meat, I... I can't do this anymore.”

 

She felt him roll to one side to regard her. “It's Bread, isn't it?  You're still hung up on him?

 

“No!  It’s just, I never really told him it was over...  this feels like we’re sneaking around… “ She quivered, desperate for his heat, but willed herself to stay strong.  “It's not right, Meat and you know it.” 

 

He picked up a one of her pale strands and tugged, slowly wrapping her length around him, drawing her close.  Fight it Angel, stay on track.  He must have sensed her resistance because he yanked, moulding her against his hardness.  “Yeah, but that's part of the attraction, and you know it.”

 

“Well, I'm not doing this anymore!”  She struggled for a moment before she went limp.  How could she fight him?  His texture, his spicy scent, his wonderfully playful sauciness… how could she fight him when she craved him so much?  “Please Meat.  You know I love you.  I just want us to be together and... and... not worry-“

 

“Well, well well.  What do we have here?”

 

Angel stiffened.  Oh God, Bread!

 

“You've got some balls, Meat trying to slide in on Angel.”  She watched in horror as Bread leaned forward, looking more steamed than she ever seen him before.  He had a mean temper, especially when he got into garlic and right now, the scent of it on him was almost overpowering.

 

Angel moved, trying to push Meat behind her.  “Bread, please!”

 

Meat would have nothing of it.  He moved around her, shielding her.  “Sliding, Ha!  She came to me, pal, because she's tired of being tied up in knots over some butterfingered, one-spice side dish.”

 

Angel looped around Meat, trying to pull him back.  “Meat, no!”

 

“Is that a fact? You think you can satisfy?”

 

“Hey, you said it pal.  I've got the balls.”

 

“You're full of bull!  Angel's mine, and we'll always go together.  Tell him Angel!”

 

“Bread...”  She hesitated, and glanced away.

 

“Oh god, no.  Angel.  My beautiful Angel hair.”  He turned from her, but she saw him pale beneath his perfect golden exterior before he moved.

 

“Bread, please.  It’s got to end for us.  It’s better this way.”  Angel forced herself not to reach out, to try to ease his pain from his broad form.  He seemed so stiff, and to do so might make him crack.  She couldn’t bear to watch him go to pieces.  “I think we both knew our time together was short.  You're always done and gone, leaving me on the plate, alone.  I… I need more, Bread.  And besides, I've seen you and Cheese.  You're a better fit with her than me.”

 

“That's not true!”

 

“You know it is.  I'm okay with that.  I... I still love you, but it's different now.  Please understand.”

 

“No, Angel...”

 

“Yes Bread, it has to be this way.  I can’t live a lie.  Meat is better for me.  We complete each other.  Same as Cheese completes you.”  

 

Meat pulled her close, giving her strength and heat to her cold form while they watched Bread, waiting.  The moments stretched out, tension so thick, it could be cut with a knife. 

 

“Goodbye Angel.”  Bread said as he left, not bothering to turn around or to look back.

 

Angel moved, but Meat wouldn’t let her go.  She pulled, but he held on tight.  “I’ve got to go and see if he’s ok!”  D@mn it!  Couldn’t he see?

 

Meat wrapped her tighter to him.  “Don’t Angel.  That’s not what he needs right now.”

 

She stilled.  He was right.  She knew Bread would need some time, but she ached, knowing the pain he was in.  “I know.  I just can’t stand seeing him like that.”

 

“He might be flaky, but he’s tough.  He’ll get over it.”

 

Angel allowed Meat to guide her back to their spot on the plate.  “Think we’ll all ever be able to be friends?  You, me, Cheese and Bread?  Like be at the same dinner parties and stuff?”

 

Meat spun her around, catching her off guard, tumbling her to the plate.  “Sure it will happen.  Cheese will hold him together.  Betcha we’ll all be able to sit at the same table real soon.” 

 

Angel laughed as he tickled her length.  “You think so?”

 

“If not, lunch is on me.”

 

*** can you all guess what I've been craving for the last week?  LOL ***

 

Melissa L.

Hi, I'm looking for someone who is serious about getting published and very dedicated to the work.  Someone who is into studying the Craft and studying the Romance/Presents lines. 

What I'm looking for someone to/who is:

1.  brainstorm with.  2. not afraid to plot. 3. willing to give honest positive critiques 4.  willing to kick butt if needed LOL

And I will give the same as well! 

Melissa L.

Hi, I'd like to say this forum is stuffed full of excellent information!  Big thanks from this "pre-published" romance writer. 

I do have a question:  Who are the new Presents authors acquired for 2008?  I know I saw a list somewhere.  I think it was on iheartpresents dot com, but cannot find it, even with the search feature.  Rats!  Anyone know the authors or could post a link to the list?  Thanks,

Melissa L.