How many of you find yourself working on that scene—you know the one where your characters are finally getting into the juice of the story, working on that love scene you just can’t walk away from until it’s finished and bam, another day has gone by while you promised yourself you’d start exercising again?
Okay, maybe it’s just me. Lately I’ve been so focused on my writing/editing/researching and yes, checking out blogs/websites/Tweeting—all in the name of my writing career. In the meantime, I’ve managed to find my clothes a bit snug and soda cans piling up in my trash can.
My favorite words lately—‘Just a few more sentences. Let me finish this scene.’
By the time I’m done I don’t have the energy to work out or it’s time to fix dinner, or some other excuse. That was me, a year ago. I was spending time applying to jobs on-line along with my hubby who’d been laid off (I was the stay at home Mom for many years), working on my novels and trying to keep up with my teenagers schedules. One was in college locally and the other active with theater and art. Where was I supposed to find time to exercise, finish a novel and do everything else? My idea of exercise was walking up and down 3 flights of stairs to do laundry and then I was winded—no, I was out of shape!
It took me getting into my favorite Renaissance dress (or barely) to realize something had to give. I had gained a size in my upper body, my clasps barely fit around my bodice and though the dress hid a multitude of sins elsewhere, I realized my jeans weren’t fitting as well and I had those wonderful muffin tops hanging over my stretch Lee’s.
I evaluated what I’d been doing. We started buying sodas, something I rarely kept in the house, when my hubby was home. My routine had changed drastically now my hubby was home and I busied myself with my books to stay with him and look for employment. Just a few things were making my life different. I didn’t feel like exercising—I hate to when someone is home, I prefer alone time for that.
So now hubby is working again, even though the kids are home for the summer, I’ve gotten back into power walking in the morning and playing Kinect on the Xbox in the afternoon when I begin to get sluggish. Yes, it breaks up my writing but it also keeps me alert and wakes me up. As far as eating/drinking—I’ve gone back to flavored waters, juices and one cup of coffee in the morning and air popped popcorn or fruits and veggies when I’ve got the munchies.
Is it working? Let’s say, I’m maintaining a ten pound range—not going under but not going over either. Any suggestions?
How do you find time to stay fit and write, live, etc?
Monthly Archives: July 2011
Shut Up and Listen
I’ve been out of touch recently, lavishing in the brief respite from the buzzing schedule of my normal life. My family and I have seen a few sights, visited with grandparents, attended a reunion and just relaxed. I’ve enjoyed basking in the sun by the pool with a favorite book (that I’m reading for fun, not research), the air permeated by the familiar scent of sunscreen while my kids swim with their friends. I’ve enjoyed taking my girls to the mall where we can walk and talk, have lunch and window shop. And of course lots of giggling over boys—I do live with two teenage girls after all. For me, a family vacation allows time to unwind and reconnect with each other without the day-to-day distractions of home life.
During the school year I’m all about schedules. Who has to be where? Soccer, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, track, chorus, cello, friends, doctor’s appointments, dental appointments, sleepovers, and then some…Whew, it makes me tired just writing it. 🙂 We all have these scheduling drains on our lives and we all know how hard it is to find time to write, but have you ever considered the story inspiration that surrounds you everyday while you’re going about your normal routine?
It might be the next table’s conversation while you’re at lunch or someone standing in line with you at your local coffee shop, a teacher or coach at your child’s school or the receptionist at your pediatrician’s office. You know how it happens, you’re standing there minding your own business, and suddenly, someone does or says something outrageous or hilarious or poignant and the next thing you know, a story or character idea flashes in your head. You stand there thinking, I so need to put that in a book. It’s an A-ha moment in which your universe suddenly makes sense, at least the one you have built in your story.
Earlier this month we attended my husband’s 25-year high school reunion and I have to say inspiration abounded. Fortunately, most of the attendees had moved on from being the ‘nerd’ or the ‘cheerleader’ to just being people with jobs and lives with bigger things to worry about than who’s going out with whom and what kind of car they drive. But how could I not zero in on the stereotypical ‘obnoxious jock’ that spent his high school years making everyone else’s life miserable. The poor man is 43 and spent his evening reminiscing over his “glory days” of giving wedgies in the locker room and proving that he continues to be a foul mouthed jerk by screaming, “Nipples” when the photographer was taking a group picture.
Another comical inspiration occurred recently while on a family trip. We stopped at a small roadside diner for lunch and I thought I was going to spew soda through my nose when the lady taking orders turned around and in the worst southern accent you can imagine and shouted across the entire restaurant, “Chicken up! Pluck ‘em and fry ‘em!” I mean honestly, who does that? Well apparently, she does.
So whether it comes in the form of a news article, television, movie or a person on the street little tidbits sneak in and make you think, Wow, what a great idea for a book, or a scene, or a character, or dialog… and the next thing you know your story takes off. Now that I have told you my secrets for story inspiration it’s time for you to check in and share, where do you find your inspiration?
Summer Lovin’
Summer Lovin’, had me a bla-aast…
Don’t you remember the anticipation of summer? Counting down the days and planning adventures with friends. Just waiting for life to begin. When every day was a gift and you yearned to make the most of it.
I’m not talking about the scents of freshly cut grass or wild honeysuckle or even the feeling of sand between your toes and the sun’s rays tingling the tanning oil on your body. I’m talking about feelings of love and anticipation and a world ripe with…possibilities. The possibility of falling in love. Again and again.
I remember the excitement about boys. I can now look back with the realization that summer relationships taught me a lot. It was that first taste of all-consuming love—when you knew IN ADVANCE that it wasn’t meant to last beyond the season so you tried to make each and every little moment count.
Sleeping in and sneaking out. Giggling into the night with girlfriends about boys and willing to sneak out for stolen kisses because summer put your life in slow motion for a while. It was time suspended, and we made the most of it. It was a time when taking a walk at sunset with the love of your life (for that part of the summer) and intertwining your fingers with his seemed like the most romantic thing in the world.
As writers, do you tend to write scenes occurring in the summer because they come easiest to you? I wrote my first book around the place where we used to summer vacation every year, and those scenes always felt the strongest. The love always felt the strongest there, and I think it’s because our memories of those days remain fresh somehow. The magic of summer love and the bittersweet flavor it leaves long after it’s gone.
There’s a comment made in The Notebook that I’ve always loved: “Summer romances begin for all kinds of reasons, but when all is said and done, they have one thing in common. They’re shooting stars, a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, fleeting glimpse of eternity, and in a flash they’re gone.”
What are some of your favorite movies and/or books dealing with summer love? Here are a few of mine.
Kim’s Summer Love Movies
- Man in the Moon (with Reese Witherspoon)
- The Notebook
- Dirty Dancing
- Little Darlings
- Grease
I’ll leave you with an anonymous quote I read that started me thinking about my old boyfriends of summer: “In every girl’s life, there’s a boy she’ll never forget and a summer where it all began.” Who is the boy you’ll never forget?
Summer Lovin’, happened so fa-aast…
What reality TV has taught me about writing
I love reality TV. Love it. Over the years, I have wasted countless hours watching shows such as Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, Top Chef, The Biggest Loser, The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette. Among others.
But were these hours really a waste of time? For one, reality TV has provided me with a much-needed way to unwind after a long, stressful day. For another, amidst the drama and the scandals, these shows have actually – gasp! — taught me something about writing.
Goal. Interestingly, the only reality shows I watch are the ones based on a competition. From the outset, even before we know anything about the contestants, we know what they want. To be the sole survivor. America’s favorite dancer. The biggest loser. Recipient of the final rose. Their goals are clearly defined, and the entire season revolves around the progression towards achieving (or failing to achieve) those goals. Instant plot, anyone?
Conflict. You put a bunch of people in the same room – or the same island – who want the same thing. And then you tell them that only one of them will get it. Instant conflict! The reality shows take it one step further and eliminate a contestant every single episode, keeping the tension high. Even during the most uneventful episodes, I watch until the very end, just so I can see who’s eliminated. This teaches us the importance of having conflict on every page.
Pushing Players to the Extreme. Reality shows take contestants out of their ordinary worlds and put them into extreme situations. A forest in the Amazon with no food or water. A race around the world. A stage in front of an audience of millions. Why? Because when you take people outside their comfort zones, interesting things start to happen. The emotions most central to humanity emerge – fear, jealousy, rage, love, lust, hope, despair, and joy.
Making Tough Decisions. Time and time again, these shows present contestants with difficult choices. Am I willing to betray my friend for a million dollars? Will I give up time with a loved one to curry favor with my teammates? These dilemmas even arise in shows less cutthroat than Survivor. In the most recent season of Top Chef Masters, for example, a quickfire challenged the chefs to make a dish incorporating insects, requiring them to kill the bugs themselves. One renowned chef refused to complete the challenge, as his religious beliefs forbade him from taking a life. In a classic case of “show versus tell,” this single decision told me more about his character than a dozen interviews. True character is revealed in the decisions that people make. The tougher the decision, the more we learn about a person’s character.
Characters. These shows bring together a myriad of people, from all walks of life. They throw these contestants together and watch them clash. The editing team creates characters, from hero to villain to underdog, to maximize drama. With so many different personalities, I always find someone for whom I can root.
In the end, I think reality shows are addictive because they know how to tell a good story. They set up a clearly-defined goal, build in conflict, put a colorful cast of characters in an extreme situation and ask them to make difficult decisions, and voila! You’ve got a story. And that’s what good writing is all about.
What are your favorite reality shows? Do you consider reality TV to be good story-telling or a waste of time? Or a little of both?
New York City, Nationals and the Creepy Crawlies
Bed Bugs! My attention from Nationals was diverted by an abundance of urgent discussions on this topic amidst the WRW loop. Shuddering, I firmly pushed aside thoughts of infestation and focused my attention on the conference and all the whispers that I had heard – “ overwhelming, awe-inspiring.. “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry.. your life will never be the same again.” Yeah, sure, I thought, assuming the adage applied to those earthlings who have not been able to reign their emotion to such perfection it should be introduced as an Olympic sport.
On the first day of the conference, I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was off. Don’t get me wrong, there was NOTHING wrong with the conference. Compared to the millions of others I attended for work purposes, this one rivaled anything I had ever seen; efficient and organized and with attention and preparedness for every detail.
But as day one morphed into day two, I could no longer keep at bay the creepy crawly feeling seeping into my consciousness. Past the protective layer of denial I chose to build around the anticipation and anxiety, it wove an ethereal web of fear and uncertainty that infested me worse than any bed bug on the planet.
It wasn’t the hordes of faces, famous, infamous and yet-to-be-famous faces flitting from room to room. The creepy crawlies, which I was so worried would be in my bed, were actually in my head. And so they began to mess with me. I wandered from workshop to workshop, trying to locate my “place” and not really finding it. When people asked what I wrote, the only words I wanted to push out of my mouth were, “I’m not a writer.” And so, like a flattened bed bug, I left. On my trip home, I thought about the positives; I met up with great WRW friends (hello a few mermaids), attended two FABULOUS workshops and soaked up the greatness of being surrounded by so many writers. But on the flip side, the conference left in its wake a nest of creepy crawlies that intensified my feelings of doubt and inadequacy.
In bed that night, as I replayed the events of the days, I realized the conference didn’t “bring” out those feelings. It just allowed me the opportunity to feel them, something I don’t like doing. In the end, I’m glad I went, despite the creepy crawlies. Because as we all know, running from the bugs is a great way to ensure they’ll catch you. Facing them head on is the only way to go. So as I nurse the ouchie left on my pocketbook by a pricey stay in NYC, I’m cautiously motivated to utilize those gems of wisdom I learned in those workshops to create a better product. And hopefully, it isn’t infested with bugs. Anyone else?
What’s the Buzz? – Self Publishing
RWA Nationals 2011 had loads of inspiration gushing from every workshop, meal function and hallway conversation. You name it. I loved it. But I usually do. The annual RWA conference is a drug that fills you up with the kind of joy and excitement that can keep you motivated through New Year’s Eve.
But that’s what Nationals is all about. The people. The connections. The camaraderie. The inspiration.
But like in other years, there’s always one topic that haunts me. No matter where I went or what the workshop was supposed to be all about – this subject found a way to worm itself into the moment…yep, I’m talking about self-publishing.
At my RWA 11, there wasn’t one workshop, luncheon or publisher’s spotlight that didn’t feature a comment (or more than one) about self-publishing. And those comments varied dramatically in tone and flare.
Some agents and editors delivered narrow-eyed statements about vanity publishers. Others gave straight-forward, finger wagging warnings about how much hard work was required and how little time a writer would have left to write if they seriously intended to make a go of it via publishing their own works. And then there were the digs about how all of this effort would earn you only a few pennies – if that.
On the other hand, there were a few supporters. Those industry professionals who made it clear that for some authors — for example those who owned their own back lists — self-publishing could well be a good option with the right team (and some solid research). There were even a few self-publishing houses mentioned as worth their weight in gold (sorry I didn’t take notes on these comments so I don’t have examples).
Now where do I fall in all of this?
To some extent, I had the same knee jerk reaction that a lot of writers have about self-publishing: vanity publishing with a new coat of paint.
What Is It Worth To You?
Being at the RWA national conference must have triggered some deep-level thought processes I was unaware of.
What do you want? What are you prepared to do?
Here’s the story – I was a member of NYSC for several years. I loved that gym and all it had to offer. I’d joined with a friend who later discovered that she would get a cheaper membership with her school district’s corporate membership, and she loved getting that bargain. I tried every trick in the book but I couldn’t match her. She worked closer to home. I didn’t. She made more money. I certainly didn’t! Even with a husband who’d been tossed out of work, there was no mercy. Pay the price, or take a hike.
But, because her school district had negotiated a corporate membership, she had advantages I didn’t. And I was supposed to be happy. I wasn’t. I kept thinking about leaving, but couldn’t find a gym that would make me happier and I didn’t want to leave her behind.
Finally, when family finances forces her to reconsider the cost she was paying even then, we both moved to a gym that was closer to home and a lot cheaper to join. And it wasn’t the same. At all.
Being part of a gym that didn’t offer the machines I worked best on, had locker rooms on the first floor, didn’t have towel service, didn’t have a pool, or the showers I loved, or the soaps I enjoyed, or a sauna — those were losses I had to live with. I thought I could probably be happy. I was keeping a friend happy and saving money. I should be happy. Right?
Wrong. As time went on, I didn’t use the machines that were available. I was intimidated by the few aerobics classes that were offered. There were two classes I liked and no machines. Finally, in a Zumba class of all things (and I don’t really like Zumba), I stepped on my own foot and fell, and cracked my wrist.
I had to re-evaluate. Was saving money and keeping a friendship worth cracking a wrist?
And, after visiting my old gym this morning, I began to think – taking the easy way out on a gym membership, favoring the cheaper, closer gym that offers fewer classes and services is like taking the easy way out on writing. My former gym offers a new membership, just for teachers, and at a reduced rate (my former director fought for this with me and all the other teachers in mind). It will cost $5 more a month and be a longer drive. It will also give me back a facility I loved and benefits I’ve missed.
Yes, I will be re-joining the original gym. And, in thinking this over, I come back to a central question: what is it worth to you? What is writing worth to you, and what are you giving up to pursue this? When you are tempted to throw in the towel because of too many rejections, too many nay-sayers, too many days without making a word count or a meaningful connection to your work, what do you say?
Are you willing to pay the price?
Conflict and the Ten Year Old
Conflict…an essential element of any story in the 21st Century.
I know this because I’ve just come back from the Romance Writers of America’s National Conference in New York City where I attended several workshops attempting to really show us the core of what conflict means. And not just that, but how it affects almost every aspect of your writing. If you know what you’re doing with internal conflict, then you’ll have characters the readers care about. If you can boil the main conflict of your story down to 25 words or less, you may just have a high concept which will help you have a dazzling pitch. A tight, fast-paced novel with no sagging middle means you know what you’re doing with external conflict and your readers will appreciate that. Every stage from the pitch, query, synopsis, the meat of the book…if you’ve got the conflict down, then you’re on the right path.
Pages and pages of copious notes and a few days later to soak it all up, and I’m pretty sure I have a firm understanding.
So yesterday as I was sitting with my ten-year old son on the couch, winding down from a week in the crazy beautiful city of New York, a commercial came on for Cartoon Network’s The Amazing World of Gumball. And my son very casually said to me, “Mom, did you see how that balloon just fell in love with the cactus. If it does that, it’s going to die.”
I put my notes away and watched Cartoon Network with my son the rest of the day.
Have a great day everyone!
Happy Fourth of July!!!
July 4th is my favorite holiday. I could watch fireworks on a nightly basis. Perhaps my love of glitter and sparkles has something to do with it.
Happy July 4th!
Plus, the Fourth of July is fun. There is no present-buying-stress like Christmas. Sure, you may get some picnic or barbecue food together, but that doesn’t seem to be as stressful as a huge Thanksgiving dinner.
Instead, July 4th is easy. It’s summer, the weather is (hopefully) beautiful and you can just relax and celebrate with friends and family. Again, hopefully with fireworks.
But the real reason why this is my favorite holiday is the meaning. Let’s take a moment to remember the significance of this day; what it represents and why we celebrate it. The Fourth of July is about freedom.
I’ve been thinking about my love for this relaxing holiday and how it makes me feel. Interesting that that same easiness and carefree feeling used to be applied to my writing. Before I learned about publishing contracts, query letters, protecting your rights and pitching to agents, writing was fun, relaxing and, in a way, celebratory.
I’ve just finished my first RWA Nationals in New York City. I definitely left the conference feeling inspired, rejuvenated and ready to write. But my goal for this coming year is now to remember that I write because I love it. While I understand the importance of these things, writing isn’t just about agents, editors, contracts, websites, twitter feeds and meetings.
For me, I need to return to the real meaning of writing. My freedom to create, inspire and have fun.
So, let me wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July and a Happy Year of Writing!
The End
So I watched season premiere of True Blood the other night. Tradition holds that I enjoy an adult beverage or two while I’m watching my favorite vampire/warewolf/fairy/telepath/God-I-Love-Lafayette TV show. That first beer went quick (it was a hell of a week), so I hit pause to make a quick kitchen run. That’s when I saw the show was already half over.
“No!” I squealed. (Yes, I really did squeal, this is not a proud moment for me.)
Waiting a week for the next episode would be bad enough, but I’ll be twiddling my thumbs for two weeks because as you read this I’m on vacation. And while my parents have lots of fun stuff at their house, HBO is not one of them. I’d like to say that’s the only reason for my outburst, but the truth is that any time I’m sucked into another character’s world I hate having to step out of it.
You know the feeling. You’re speeding through a book and then – wham! – you realize your on the last chapter. How in the world did that happen? Come on, I can’t be the only one who experiences that.
Unfortunately, I’m the same way when it’s my own characters.
Shhhh. Don’t tell anyone but I’ve been staring at the last chapter of A Dry Creek Bed (the sequel to Up a Dry Creek) for a week and a half. I know what needs to happen. I know exactly what to write. I just can’t seem to do it because that means I have to say goodbye to my hero and heroine who I’ve come to love. They’re funny and sexy and passionate. The mystery is about to get wrapped up with a final twist that (hopefully) will leave readers with their jaws on the ground. My villain is dead and as warped as she was I miss her already. So of course, I can’t get moving on that final chapter. If I’m missing the crazy sauce of my villain, think of how bad the mourning will be when I say goodbye to my hero and heroine.
This is the real reason why I wanted to make Up a Dry Creek the first in a series of four, because I have a hard time letting go of the characters I love. Turning it into a series means I get to revisit them in each novel. Of course, eventually I’ll complete the Dry Creek Series. That is a day I’m not looking forward to, but to paraphrase Miss Scarlet – I’ll think about that tomorrow.