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Another Blog Hop

So my friend and brilliantly funny writer, Rhonda Hall, invited me to participate in a blog hop. Since I’m working on some new things, I thought it would be fun. Check out Rhonda’s blog at http://rhondamhall.wordpress.com/. And keep an eye out for her name. I’ve never met an author with such a gift for humor. Her characters are so realistic and her dialogue leaves you crying from laughter.

Okay, here are this “hop’s” questions and my (hopefully) brilliant answers.

1. What are you working on? I’ve got several irons in the proverbial fire. I’m sending my contemporary Christian novel, Winter Trees, out to get copyedited. Once that’s done, I’ll be putting it up through Createspace and Amazon. I’d like to finish my NaNoWriMo novel even though it’s a little darker than I usually write. I like the protagonist, a grieving teen named Leia, with a lot of family and school turmoil to overcome. I may never publish that one, but I need to finish it so I know what happens to her! Next, I’ve got to finish my YA trilogy, The Portals of Ayden. I’m stuck in the third novel, not wanting write out the mega-battle I know has to take place. I think I’m afraid because I know characters have to die and I don’t want to let them go. And finally, I want to start a novella on the prophetess, Anna. All this is between a spring marketing push for Woman of Flames.

I’m a little overwhelmed writing it all out. Think I’ll go get another cup of coffee…DSCN0110

 

2) How does my work differ from others in its genre? I’m really trying to walk a fine line between fiction that honors my faith, but will be enjoyed by people with no faith. I don’t want to preach to anyone, but I want my characters to serve as an example. I want someone who is hurting, who maybe has been hurt by organized religion, to still identify with my characters and their trials.

3) Why do I write what I do? To be honest, because I couldn’t find many novels whose characters were like me. I’m a mess. I have a lot of wonderful, messy friends. But we have a strong faith. Traditional Christian novels seem neater. There’s one “mess” and many “together” people. And then there’s a  section that hits me over the head with THE TRUTH. I don’t want to hammer a sermon into my readers’ brain. I see myself as planting seeds. What happens after my story is up to the reader and God.

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4) How does your writing process work? First I need to be inspired by a character or scene. Woman of Flames came about from the research I’d done when I performed a monologue about Deborah, the prophet. Other times, I’ll be free thinking (usually in the shower, go figure) and a scene will appear in my mind like a mini-movie. It’s usually some horribly traumatic scene–a woman grieving the loss of her fiancé (Winter Trees) or a modern teen thrown into a medieval jail (The Portals of Ayden trilogy.) The weirdest one was my contemporary YA. The opening line popped into my head one day, “If my father’s infidelity hadn’t already killed my mother, the endless rolling nothing of the Iowa landscape would have pushed her over the edge.” The line immediately drew me into this girl’s story.

After inspiration hits, it’s a process of sitting in front of my computer and spewing out the story. This involves a lot of coffee and my pajamas. I like to be comfy when I write and normal clothes constrict my creativity (don’t judge.) I don’t outline until the middle of story, until then, I free flow it. At some point however, I hit a wall and need to scratch out the bones of the ending.

Now for the next Blog Hop!

It’s my pleasure to introduce 3 authors I’m honored to call my friends. Steve Parlato’s YA novel, The Namesake, won the Tassy award. Chuck Grossart’s The Menegele Effect is a semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and Angela Meyer’s novel, Where Hope Starts is a finalist in the 2013 Grace Awards. Check out their bio’s and follow their links below! Thanks!

SteveBookLaunchSteven Parlato is a writer, illustrator and Assistant Professor of English at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Connecticut. An occasional actor, he’s played roles including MacBeth, The Scarecrow and Bambi’s dad, the Great Prince of the Forest. Steve’s poetry appears in journals including MARGIE, Borderlands, Freshwater, CT River Review and Peregrine. His debut YA manuscript, JUNIOR, winner of the 2011 Tassy Walden Award for New Voices, was released January 18, 2013 by Merit Press as The Namesake. Recently, Kirkus called the novel a “memorable, disturbing story, carefully wrought.” Represented for fiction by Victoria Marini of Gelfman-Schneider Literary Agency, Steven is at work on his next YA novel. He’s a member of a YA author collective, Uncommon YA. You can also find him online at http://www.stevenparlato.com or on Twitter: @parlatowrites

387084_457579070940203_1670040779_nAngela D. Meyer lives in Omaha, NE with her husband of more than 22 years. She homeschools their daughter and recently graduated their son who is now off to the Marines. She has taught Bible class for over 35 years and served for almost three years on the leadership team of her local Christian writers group. She loves God, her family, the ocean, good stories, connecting with friends, taking pictures, quiet evenings and a good laugh. Someday she wants to ride in a hot air balloon and vacation by the sea.   www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaDMeyer  www.angeladmeyer.com

1070041_680052482011377_1742231728_nChuck Grossart is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel originally from the Denver, Colorado area. After serving his country for twenty years as a missile launch officer, space operator and strike planner, he settled his family outside of Omaha, Nebraska, where he continues to serve as a strategic plans analyst for the Department of the Air Force. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Northern Colorado, and a MSHRM from Lesley University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. His first novel, THE COMING, was a quarter-finalist in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA) contest. His second novel, THE MENGELE EFFECT, was selected as a top-three finalist in Audio-ON’s 2013 Aspiring Authors Contest. Chuck is a member of the Nebraska Writers Guild, and the  Nebraska Writers Workshop. http://cvgrossart.wix.com/chuck-grossart

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February Foibles

I remember in my twenties being warned by older women in my Bible study not to pray for patience. “Pray for it, and the Lord will keep sending you ways to test your patience. Traffic jams, cranky kids, being on hold with insurance companies…you name it, you’ll have to deal with it!”

I’ve learned that trying to practice thankfulness seems to have the same effect. For the new year I started a devotional by Ann Voskamp about finding God’s gifts throughout each day. I absolutely love the devotional, but since I started it, I’ve been plagued by one test after another. Puppies that poop throughout the house and don’t sleep through the night; temperatures below zero with wind chills that would scare a polar bear;  and coughs and flus that never leave. My family often finds me mumbling over my coffee as I try to focus my thoughts on God’s graces, rather than the pile of used tissues and cough drop wrappers threatening to overflow the trash can.

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But, not surprisingly, most days this incoherent chanting of mine does produce the desired effect. When I thank the Lord for my warm house, comfy jammies and the wonders of Kleenex, my mood brightens and I’m not quite so miserable.

So far, February has been spent working on practicing thankfulness and not much else. I hope to have Woman of Flames up on Smashwords soon, but with my foggy brain, it’s been a slow process. I’ve finished 1 book review, revised two humor pieces for submission to a new venue and am struggling to complete my NaNoWriMo novel. I’m also hoping to start work on a novella about Anna, the prophetess. Years ago I wrote a monologue about her and the more I think about it, the more I think it would make a great story. My plan is to offer it free on Smashwords. I may try and publish it in paperback as well.

So that’s my February update. I’m thankful this month for my chiropractor (who fixes the pinched nerve in my neck when I cough too hard,) a patient husband, understanding friends, and God’s unending mercies.

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Anyone else got something to be thankful for? Leave me a comment and let me know!

 

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Lessons Learned

I set off  for Denver last Thursday just hoping to stay awake on the long eight hour drive.  Gratefully, a good friend and my IPod kept me alert until I reached my destination–the Christian Writers Guild Conference. I’d been praying about the conference for several weeks, just asking for direction for my writing and for my future.

God delivered!

My first spiritual “thumping” came from none other than Christian author Liz Curtis Higgs. After an inspiring message about God’s faithfulness to give us the desires of our heart I had the pleasure of talking with her one-on-one for a moment while getting a book signed. She asked me what I wrote and told her I loved to write fiction but seemed to be selling more non-fiction pieces this year. I’d wondered whether it was a sign. She sat back in her chair and seemed to size me up. Then she leaned forward, stared into my eyes and said “Write your passion.”

I heard an audible “click” in my brain. Others have told me the same thing but somehow, having this stranger say it made me shiver.

Other Key note speakers talked about living life to the fullest. It’s a call I heeded at the beginning of last year but then fizzled out on. The flame has been rekindled. I don’t want to sit back and let life happen around me, I want to experience it–fear, excitement, joy and sorrow.

The final lesson was, I believe the most important. It was actually a question posed by the devotion leader on the first day of the conference- “How do people feel when they are with you?”

Ouch.

So often I find myself concerned with my own feelings and needs, I don’t even stop to consider how I’m making others feel. But no more. I’m going to make a conscious effort to think of others first, to help them before myself and try to build up those around me. I want people I’m with to feel better about themselves and about their lives. We all have problems, what we need are a few more smiles!

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Touchdown!

Okay, so maybe y’all have had enough of the football analogies, but I can’t help it. I love the sport! It’s dirty and gritty–full of conflict and heartbreak.

Just like any good story!

As most of you know, I’ve spent the month of November participating in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. Those of us insane enough to make it official signed up on their website and pledged to write at least 50,000 words over the thirty days in November.

Over the past month I’ve wrestled with my characters as I tried to meet my goal. I’ve fumbled the plot a few times, watching in horror as my characters spun across the page searching for their purpose. I’ve had to change my game plan, tackle a few opponents (like exhaustion and Black Friday shopping) but with time running out on the clock I drove down that gridiron for the go ahead score!

I reached 50,000 words last night at approximately 10:30 p.m.  I’m not the only one celebrating the achievement. My husband can’t wait to see the dining room table again (I kept my Thesaurus, idea notes, word count sheets and lap top set up there for easier access!) My kids will be happy that they won’t have to wait for me to come to the end of a scene before I’ll talk to them.

No, I haven’t completed the entire novel yet. I anticipate another 30,000 words will be needed to wrap the loose ends and fill in the blanks I left in the plot as I hopscotched to scenes I had fully realized in my head. But I’m excited to have achieved my goal. Thanks to all of you who commented either here or on FaceBook, I couldn’t have succeeded without your encouragement (and nagging!)

And now, I’m sorry to say, I have to leave you. I may have scored a touchdown, but my characters are still waiting to see who’ll win the game! I’m off to finish their story, just at a little less frantic pace!

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The Agony of a Field Goal Kicker

I’m lining up on the thirty yard line, waiting for the snap before the ball is set before me and I kick it through the goal posts to win the game!

At least that’s my plan…

There are only six more days in November…six more days to complete my NaNoWriMo goal of 50,000 words in a month! That’s the most I’ll ever have written in a thirty day period.  As of right now I’m at 38,116.

I’ve learned a few more things along this journey so far. I’m learning that the first draft doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t even have to be that good, as long as the story and characters are evolving. I don’t have to make it great before I move on, I can tell the story and polish it later.

Once again, my characters have surprised me by making me tell THEIR story, not mine. Whenever I try and force them somewhere they don’t want to go, those stubborn little figments of my imagination dig their heels in and throw a hissy fit. I spent two days scribbling in a notebook various possiblities for the plot until they finally yelled “That’s the way we want you to go!”

And I confirmed to myself that I’m a people pleaser. When my friends stopped asking me about my word count after I’d come home exhausted from a conference, I let myself slack off. But when I started posting my progress and people started prodding me on I forced my muse to come out of hiding and made my way back from a 4800 word deficit.

Now the end is in sight it’s time to steady my nerves, take a deep breath and kick that ball through the posts…um, pound those keys until I reach my goal!

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Of Brains and Words and Epitaphs…

I’m wondering where my brain went today. It seems to have wandered off. Perhaps its lingering in the remaining powdered sugar from the Dunkin Donuts I indulged in over the weekend. All I know is, I can’t find it.

This brain abandonment always occurs after a writer’s conference and that’s where I was this past weekend. I kibitzed with other writers, listened to interesting lectures and I sat down with editors to discuss my various manuscripts. The angst alone of those meetings is enough to send my brain underground. Throw in the lack of sleep and the abundance of people and I’ll be lucky to find my mind before Christmas.

On the plus side, I got lots of good feedback, insights and new avenues to pursue. A small publishing house, Written Word Communications, is interested in looking at my novel Deborah: Woman of Flames. Another contact insisted I try my hand at writing screenplays and helped to rekindle my desire to do theater again.

But now it’s back to reality and I must find my muse again. The NaNoWriMo count awaits and I’m two days behind. No matter what the future may hold, I have to remember the goals of the past and get back to writing my story.

Maybe I need another donut…

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Deadlines, To-Do Lists and Other Obligations

A few weeks ago I signed up for NaNoWriMo- National Novel Writing Month. I thought if I pledged on-line to write 50,000 words in the month of November it might actually spur my creative juices. Awaken my muse, as it were.

So far, as the start day approaches, my muse has remained in a comatose state. I think she’s begun the hibernation process, fearing the coming winter.

In addition to my slacker muse, my life has suddenly become incredibly busy. My job, which had been down to one afternoon a week, now needs me for several days a week. My daughter, an ice skater, has a competition coming up, which means extra practices. Early practices…waaaaaay before the sun rises ice times. I’ll also be out of town for several days at a conference. And then of course, there’s the realization that Thanksgiving is only three weeks away.

And so I ask this question, will this full calendar make or break me? I will actually have to schedule time to write and force myself to sit down at my lap top at those times if I even hope to reach the 50,000 word goal. It will mean not vegging out on FaceBook when I have an hour off, but being vigilant to piece thoughts together into a story. I’ll have to wake up earlier or stay up a little later than normal if I even hope to meet the goal.

It’s been a long time since I’ve put myself in this kind of situation. I’m hoping that by stating my goal “in public” as it were, I’ll have even more incentive to keep it. It used to be, when I was younger and more foolish, that I thrived on deadlines. They inspired me greatness. Now they give me heartburn. But I vow to persevere!

How about y’all? Do you work best under the pressure of deadlines and goals or does your creativity flow when you have time to let it percalate? Drop me a line and let me know!

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Goals Are Not Just For Soccer Balls

The FIFA soccer championship has been over now for weeks and yet I’m still pondering something. Would I be better at setting and working toward my goals if I had a stadium filled with people to cheer me on?

Writing is such a solitary process. We sit for hours at our computers and type out our stories. Sometimes I just sit while I contemplate a plot turn or character (my husband calls this napping, I prefer Ann Lamont’s term “wool gathering.”) But it’s not like we have a crowd of people gathered around us and urging us on to finish the next chapter.

It seems like whenever I do set a goal  I become my own worst enemy. I plan on writing 5 pages a day and somehow I hit a wall at 4. Try as I might, everything I write on the fifth page is worthless drivel. Perhaps if I hired a rabid “writing” fan I could manage a game saving head shot at the final buzzer and get that last page done, shimmering with symbolism and hyperbole.  The critics would go wild and my readers would weep with joy.

But alas, it’s not to be. I must play this writing game alone. I must dodge the opponents of writer’s block and laundry and cross that finish line to my own applause.

Maybe I’ll buy a vuvuzela  just to cheer myself on…

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Rejection is Not An Excuse

I’d been waiting several months to hear news about a short story I’d written back in January. I submitted it in February and the magazine said to give them up to six months to respond before re-submitting. I had just e-mailed a friend and said I planned on trying again once the calendar page turned to August when lo and behold in the mailbox today came the note:

Dear Writer, Thanks but no thanks. Okay, so they really weren’t that blunt, but you get the idea.

For a moment I let myself be sucker punched. I stared at the note in utter defeat. Then I went down to my computer and whined on FaceBook. There’s always someone on-line to commiserate with, to buck you up when you’re feeling down.

And now, in the words of that famous philosopher Monty Python, “I’m not dead yet! I’m feeling much better.” Rejection used to be an excuse for me to wallow in self-pity for days. Not anymore. Now I use it as a tool. A tool to motivate me to work harder. No longer a hammer to pound me into the ground, rejection is sandpaper. It may be rough and hurt a little, but ultimately it will smooth out my writing making it a thing of beauty.

And so, in the words of another great philosopher, “Once more unto the breach, dear friend, once more!” I’m off to my lap top and ready to try again!

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A Character in Search of a Home

Okay, this blog may be a bit weird if you’re not a writer, but here goes. I’m presently working on a YA (young adult) fantasy novel.  I breezed through the first 220 pages. The story flew from my imagination, to my fingertips, to the computer screen. And then….

nothing.

For weeks now.

Nothing!!!!!

I kept coming back to this one scene in a tavern and I couldn’t get my main character out of there. And then I realized there was someone else in the background. Someone I didn’t know yet, but he lurked in the corner and kept drawing me back to the scene. Everytime I tried to leave without introducing him, my writing stopped.

What to do? I hadn’t planned on adding a new character. He wasn’t in my plot outline. I didn’t even know who he was! So I sat down today and interviewed him. It sounds bizarre, but it worked. I asked him who he was, what his history was and what his intentions were for my story. You’d think, seeing as he’d come from my head in the first place,  I’d have already known the answers, but I didn’t.

But now I do! And I can’t wait to sit down and add him to my cast of characters and see where he takes me and my protagonist. I think it’s going to be a wild ride!

I thought about how many times I do that in real life. How many times do I leave a “scene”–a meeting or a party, and don’t take time to notice the person in the corner. Whether it’s my own insecurities or my self-absorption, I bet I’ve missed out on a lot of opportunities to bring a new “character,” a new friend into my life. It’s sad to think about but it makes me determined to try harder to live outside my comfort zone and allow new people into my story!