Category Archives: Writing

Where Do I NOT Write? That is the Question

Kimberly MacCarron, mermaids, Writing

I would love to say that I have an amazing office with built-in mahogany shelves to showcase my thousands of favorite books and an antique desk that once belonged to a famous author. I’d love to say I have an ergonomic chair that helps my posture and my walls are decorated with inspirational posters about writing.

But, yeah, that’s not what I have.

Instead, I write wherever I can. I start off in a chair in my living room while I have my morning coffee, celebrating the amazing words I’d crafted the day before. When my back starts to cramp in that chair, I head to the kitchen table. This is provided I can find a clear spot. During the school year, I usually have to shove projects and books to the side to make way for the laptop. With five kids, that can be a lot of shoving. I need to sponge off sticky residue from either glue or jelly. Or both. And I certainly never swear while I’m cleaning my writing area. Never.

Once I get comfortable in the wooden kitchen chair, I sometimes—almost never because I’m a writer and writers write—I might check social media very, very quickly. It rarely takes any time out of my day. I might pop on Hangouts just to see what some of my writing groups are up to. I certainly never get sidetracked by things that are not writing-related. I would never discuss inappropriate couches or clown erotica or mating rituals of insects. And if a swarm of Dragonflies (Golden Heart finalists from 2015) jumps on here to dispute that, well, they’re just flat-out fibbing. I never look at the time on my phone and realize that two hours have gone by without writing a word. That never happens. Never.

But if it did, I would want a new location to jumpstart those creative juices. That’s when I usually head up to my bed. I stack the pillows behind me to get comfy, then I hunker down and write ALL THE WORDS. I power through, not tempted by the television. Not tempted to throw things in my Amazon Prime cart. Not tempted to research anything that could take me down the rabbit hole. That never happens. Never.

Later in the afternoon my kids start yelling up the stairs that I need to be ready to take them to soccer. That’s when I slip my laptop into my Vera Bradley bag and schlep it out to my minivan. I usually brainstorm my next chapter all the way to my destination, and then as soon as I park, I whip out my laptop and don’t waste even a minute of my writing time. Usually the words are flowing and I’m way in the zone when my kids head back to the van after practice. I never leave my laptop in that cute little Vera Bradley bag while I talk to other soccer moms or text my writing friends. That never happens. Never.

I’ve written pretty much everywhere. I’ve written in bleachers. I’ve written on a large quartz rock at a park. I’ve written in restaurants and coffee houses. I’ve written on my upraised knee, standing in line at the DMV. This I did recently on my birthday since I may or may not have forgotten that my driver’s license expired on the day I turned…well, on the day I turned 33. Again.

For the most part, it’s not really important WHERE you write. It’s only important that you WRITE.

Where’s the craziest place you’ve ever written? And do you have a special place that makes those words flow? If so, share.

www.kimmaccarron.com Twitter: @KimMacCarron

www.kimmaccarron.com
Twitter: @KimMacCarron

Summer TV: Guess What I’m Binge-Watching

Denny S. Bryce, mermaids, Writing

Television. There used to be a time when television offered nothing in the summer but reruns. Those days ended with cable TV and a slew of platforms from which you can view most anything. Then came Queen Netflix and the phrase BINGE-WATCHING entered into the modern-day lexicon.

nintchdbpict000266131446So, this long weekend, I did some binge-watching. And, if you haven’t guessed by the photos, I’ll tell you about two shows as diametrically opposed as two shows can be. Both of which I either have recently binged on or am in the process of binge-watching.

First, I’ll talk about the show I’ve completed. “Victoria” on the BBC is a tour-de-force for an actress I ‘hated’ in Doctor Who. Yes, I’m saying it here: Jenna Coleman is suburb as the feisty, romantic, stubborn Queen Victoria and I can’t wait for season two.

I also will admit that the love story between her and Prince Albert kept me on the edge of my seat (and I know history, I visited Windsor Castle last time I was in England). Definitely, helps the binge-watching gene when a great love story is part of the action.cast-of-hbo-series-the-wire-went-to-baltimore-to-reenact-scenes-from-freddie-gray-protests

Now, for the other show I’ve been mesmerized by – and yes, I’m very late to this party. I had never watched “The Wire”. The five-season show that was widely heralded during its heydays from the moment it debuted in 2002 (and ended with its fifth season in 2008). Of course, I’d heard about the love generated by Idris Elba’s performance (and okay, he was as fine a fine-looking man then as today. Le-sigh and then some). Anyway, the grit, the dialogue, the story lines–tough, gritty television at its best. Much love, and highly recommended. Okay, those are my TV recs. And watch out for me in the fall at HEA USA Today, talking all things Outlander on Starz when Droughtlander 2.0 finally returns! Now go watch TV (or just keep writing good stories, I read, too:)…

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My Favorite Writing Spot: Alethea Kontis

Alethea Kontis, Writing, , , ,

Alethea Kontis at HomeHello, the Lagoon!

Alethea Mermaid here! I’m kicking off our latest blog theme, which asks the question, “Where’s your favorite place to write?”

My answer: HOME.

There are many reasons for this, including: a grand library, a hand-me-down couch, a boatload of inspirational quotes, and the petrified body of my first best friend.

Click below to watch the complete video!
Support Alethea on Patreon!
Follow Alethea on Amazon!

Cover Reveal: Seize Today by Pintip Dunn!

Cover Reveal, mermaids, new release, Pintip, Pintip Dunn, Writing, , ,

Hello, friends!

Today is a fin-tastic day to be dipping your toes into the lagoon. This is because we Waterworld Mermaids have the distinct honor of participating in a very special book event…

A big thank you and fishy kiss goes out to YA Books Central for revealing the cover of Mermaid Pintip’s Seize Today!

I was just reading the synopsis and once again, Mermaid Pintip has truly delivered an astounding story for the readers. I just marked my calendar–October 3rd–and cannot wait to add this to my collection. I hope you will too. But for now, onto the exciting fishy business of a proper cover reveal.

And so with bubbles and fins and lots of fishy kisses, I only have one word left… ENJOY!!!

 

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Continue reading →

WHY thank you, Mary Buckham ;-)

Carlene Love, Marketing, mermaids, Motivation, Publishing, Writing, , , , , , , , ,

CarleneLoveHello fishy friends,

Welcome to today! Let me get straight to business, as a good student of Mary Buckham would do. Last month, my local writing chapter, Romance Writers of America-San Diego, hosted Mary as our guest speaker and her craft and branding workshop was outstanding. I highly recommend you check them out. I’m not one to take pages and pages of notes because I like to listen to all those little one-liners and short stories the speaker usually throws in between the meat of the presentation. Well, I ended up with a couple pages of “Mary-isms”. I loved them! She’s great. My favorite, however, was this:

It’s not about what you do, it’s about why you do what you do. That’s what the readers are connecting with.

She then challenged us to figure out for ourselves why we have to write and proceeded to briefly mention Sherrilyn Kenyon. My heart instantly warmed. Mary asked the room if anyone was familiar with Sherrilyn’s why story. Several hands shot up, mine included. I also got goosebumps. Anyone who knows me understands the deep love I have for SK and I knew exactly what Mary was talking about in that instant. If you’ve read any of SK’s books, but especially if you’ve heard Sherrilyn speak, you know why she writes. She doesn’t have to spell it out. Attend one of her signings, and you will pick up on it. I won’t try to put it into words or speak for my favorite author, but I can tell you Sherrilyn is coming from a place that was once painful and her why, in my mind, is that she wants her readers to know that it will be okay and they are not alone.

Redemption. Family. Forgiveness.

As her devoted reader, I believe that combination is Sherrilyn’s why. 

Sometimes when you are posed a question, does your mind become a blur? Do you become either a completely blank slate or are you inundated with thousands of pieces of what could eventually be a clear answer to the question if you could only sort and connect them? That is often me. But when Mary challenged us to figure out our why that day, as easy as a passing breeze, it came to me. It was that I never want anyone to feel ashamed or alone because of things they’ve done or have had done to them in their life. Too many people, with generous and kind and thoughtful souls, suffer the judgment of others before they are given a chance to show their worth.

Worthy. Second Chance. Unashamed.

That combination is my why. 

What is yours? I’d genuinely love to know.

BIF-CoverA HUGE thank you to Mary Buckham for posing this question to a room of people who most certainly all have a why. And to Dianna Love, co-author of Breaking Into Fiction, which I highly recommend for every writer out there. It’s the craft book I finally understand and I use it with every story I write. And to Sherrilyn Kenyon. For her bravery.

Find more about Mary HERE at her website.

Find more about Dianna Love HERE at her website.

Find more about Sherrilyn HERE at her website.

Find more about me, Carlene, HERE at my website.

Fishy kisses,

Carlene Mermaid

Mikky Ekko on Writing (And a Wild Wicked Shout Out)

Carlene Love, Conferences, Motivation, Writing, , , , , , , , , , ,

Hello fishy friends,

Fun shots for all con attendees by photographer Taria Reed. A big thank you to Kelii, Blake, Charles, Axl and Taylor the great picture.

Fun shots for all con attendees by photographer Taria Reed. A big thank you to Kelii, Blake, Charles, Axl and Taylor for the great picture.

Just a quick shout out to start things off. I’m back from a nice time at the Wild Wicked Weekend romance readers conference, aka Ultimate Girls Weekend Out, which is held annually, each February, in San Antonio, Texas. It is put on by five wonderful women–Dalton Diaz, Brenna Zinn, Samantha Cayto, Desiree Holt and Cerise Deland. These ladies are the heart and soul of the con and make it a special and unique experience for all. Where else can you learn to lap dance, body paint cover models and enjoy one of the finest drag queen pageants in the country while spending time with friends and making new ones, all in a haunted hotel? Keep on the lookout for information on next year’s festivities and start convincing your girlfriends now that you need to go. THIS IS WHERE I INSERT A GIANT HINT TO MY MERMAID SISTERS…WWW FIELD TRIP? WINK WINK. Whether you’re a reader, writer, blogger or reviewer, you’ll have a blast.

And now for my short and sweet post.

Have you heard of Mikky Ekko? He’s one of my all-time favorite artists. When I heard some of the cool things he had to say in this interview with Pavlina, I knew I wanted to share with my fellow writers. And I don’t mean just book writers. If you’ve ever sat down at a keyboard or pulled out a pen and paper even to simply write a letter, this is for you.

I love Mikky’s advice for writers. In a world where speedy production schedules and constant updates have become the norm, I am reminded that we should not forget the timing of the heart and soul. Whether it’s a letter, a song, a blog post, an article, a journal entry, a status update, a novel. Whatever your medium may be, it’s okay to slow down until you have something to say. I’m here. You’re here. We’re all here until we’re not. What’s the rush?

“It’s not going to be a great song if you don’t have anything to say.” ~Mikky Ekko

I hope you enjoyed Mikky. He’s the best!

Have a wonderful month, fishy friends. My best to you and yours.

Fishy kisses,

Carlene Mermaid

My Weekend in A Bigger Pond

Agents and Editors, Conferences, generosity, Susan Jeffery, Writing, , , , , , , ,

SusanMermaid

Greetings on a lovely Tuesday morning!  With all the rain behind us for the moment, I can calm down and think again about my fabulous weekend at WRWDC’s annual retreat, In the Company of Writers.

This is one of my favorite retreats. It’s small and relaxed, but still has the energy that comes from friends meeting for two full days to talk about writing and publishing, in every possible format.

What were my favorite parts of the retreat?

A serious moment - the Magic Crystal service award.

A serious moment – the Magic Crystal service award.

  • The food. Seriously. It just kept coming – although the Saturday night desserts caused a near stampede. One poor waiter saw his tray of cheesecake slices vanished before he could get them to the serving table.
  • The seminars – My favorites: Bella Andre’s Ten Tips to Indie Success, Elaine English on Copyright (yes, it really was interesting) and the Keynote speeches. I know I’m leaving something out, but everyone put on such a great presentation, and I couldn’t be everywhere at once!
  • The bar. Yes. Seriously. We all were given a ticket for a free drink to start the weekend off. Need I say more?
  • The Editor/Agent appointments – where we are ushered into a private room with our editors and have a chance to chat. I had a request!
  • RAFFLE2

    Mermaid Kerri’s first author basket – I won it!

    Raffle baskets. This is a big deal with WRW – the drawings took nearly an hour on Sunday afternoon. I won two baskets!

  • Camaraderie – Should I have listed this first? The dynamics of the retreat is that of meeting old friends, rekindling friendships, and making new friends. For me, it was my first retreat under my new pseudonym.  On one level, I expected someone to tell me, “Who are you kidding? That’s not your name!” Didn’t happen.

Last, the Elvis Romance Jeopardy game. Imagine 100 women, many dressed in varying degrees of Elvis-ness. You had to be there. You really did.

elvislives

Wild and Crazy at Elvis Romance Jeopardy – at least we didn’t lose!

Seriously. You had to be there.

susan

 

 

Back Away from that Phone!

mermaids, Writing

Back. Away. From. That. Phone.pintip

Imagine me saying that to myself, in the meanest, most growly voice I can muster, at least once an hour, and you’ll have a pretty accurate picture of my afternoon yesterday.

Why am I yelling at myself? Because apparently, I have no will-power. I decided this week to increase my writing productivity by being internet-free between 10am and 2pm. These are the least-interrupted hours of my day, the hours while my kids are in school.

And um, I haven’t been successful a single day.

I have excuses! Really good excuses, about things that needed to be taken care of and responded to right that very moment. I didn’t fritter the minutes away on social media. And yet, my efficiency was shot, anyway, because life happens and life takes time. Lots of time.

But instead of chalking up my experiment as a failure, I’ve decided to see it as a lesson learned. It’s not (only) the internet that interferes with my productivity; it’s the little errands and chores, it’s calling the pharmacy and signing up for camps and responding to emails.

All these daily things need to get done — don’t get me wrong. But they don’t need to be done during my prime writing hours. So, next week, I’m going to give my productivity project one more try. Only this time, instead of being internet-free, I’m going to shift my goal and reserve the hours between 10am and 2pm just for writing. The rest of the “life stuff” can be done before or after.

What do you think? Will this tweak in my strategy makes a difference in my efficiency? I certainly hope so!

What about you? What tips do you have for increasing productivity? What are your prime writing or working hours?

Why Men Write Romance and Why You Should Be Reading It! #Giveaway

Carlene Love Flores, Guy Day, Interview, Motivation, Writing, , , , , ,

Mermaid-Carlene-300x225Hello, fishy friends! Carlene Mermaid here. How are we all doing? Read any good books lately? How about any sexy smart romances written by men? No??? Let’s remedy that! Some of you might be familiar with my regular “Guy Day” posts. These usually come about when I can find a gentleman who is willing to answer in-depth questions about how he would respond, think, and feel in different situations, thereby giving us a genuine male perspective. The purpose of these posts is to help women writers craft realistic and believable male characters in our stories. Some of our brave guests in the past have included a musician, firefighter, waiter, gamer and one of my favorites, a fashion blogger. But today I figured what could be more beneficial than going straight to the source–men who are actually writing romance. Rather than doing the traditional Guy Day interview, I thought it would be best to let our guests’ work speak for itself because ultimately, their writing is their truest male perspective.

man_writing

This past February, I was inspired to pick up my first romance written by a man, Primal Desire. The hero and heroine fought so hard to earn their happily ever after. It was completely sigh-worthy and now I’m hooked on this author. I then treated myself to Heart of a Hero (blushing over here) and I have to say what I appreciate most about these books written by our guests is how direct they are. These writers know how to jump in, give a quick yet thorough set up and then whisk us off to sexy, adventurous romance land. It’s quite a ride! What was so interesting and why I highly encourage you to give them a try, is that not only are they great stories, but you become intrigued by how the authors are going to handle each situation by virtue of being a man. What will be their take on things? Will they lead with emotion or action? Are the love scenes going to be harder and possibly sexier but will they lack in the sweeter moments?  During both of these reads, I became very invested in not just the story they were telling but the subtle nuances of how they went about telling it. It made for a very refreshing reading experience, sometimes hard and sometimes emotional but always good.

So it’s without further ado that I’d like to introduce you to two talented authors who just happen to be men AND bonafide romance writers. I met Mr. Axl Goode at a recent romance conference where we talked about his writing process and he was even kind enough to school me on Scrivener. And, I’m fortunate to be an Evernight-mate of the prolific Mr. James Cox who I just counted and has published 24 books, including his newest, Underneath His Armor!  I’ll be giving away a copy of both Primal Desire and Heart of a Hero or Underneath His Armor to one lucky commenter as part of today’s post but I encourage everyone to check them out, regardless.

As an added bonus, I asked these gentlemen what it is they love about writing romance and their answers were even romantic!

Carlene Mermaid: Axl, why do you love writing romance?

10492439_332299803640630_3606742841388341978_nMr. Goode: It’s pretty simple, I enjoy writing stories where people overcome their fears, take a leap of faith, and ultimately are inspired to be a better person than who they were. I think this is important because so many people struggle to live an idealistic life or the life they truly want. It’s scary to put yourself on the line knowing that failure is possible, but what I think so many people miss is that they automatically win by simply trying. If I inspire my readers to put themselves on the line, and to go after life with tenacity and a bright spirit then I’ve succeeded in my mission. Ultimately, I’d like them to see not just the romance in my stories, but in life in general. Life is romantic, so why not romanticize it and live an amazing one?

Well said, Mr. Goode. I couldn’t agree more! Your writing is very inspiring.

*********

Carlene Mermaid: James, what is it you love most about writing romance?672903

Mr. Cox: Let’s see. Romance to me is all about hope. Hope that one day I’ll fall in love like my characters. I love writing these men that are incomplete and looking for that last piece to make their life perfect. And if they happen to be in space or another planet or a futuristic world, all the better. Lol.

Let’s see … I love this! Mr. Cox, here is to hope and adventure! Your stories definitely reflect that. 

 

Friends, let’s check out these books!!

pdPrimal Desire by Axl Goode…

Money manager Brenley has always dated intelligent and stimulating guys who could keep up with her both mentally and in the bedroom. She’s the best in her field and she owes that to her keen insight and understanding of people. That’s why when she meets playboy actor Zane Anthony she knows instantly he’s not worth her time.

There’s more to Zane than meets the eye. He’s wealthy, intelligent and completely enthralled with the aloof blonde who seems to cut him down with her every glance. Fueled by a need he doesn’t quite understand, he’s determined to get over her walls and under the sexy suits she wears that drive him crazy.

Brenley doesn’t know if she can trust Zane or the electric chemistry that sizzles between them. But when she finds herself in hot water with powerful enemies, she realizes he could be her only ally.

A bit about Axl:

Axl Goode found his calling for writing after spending time with other inspiring authors of Ellora’s Cave. He currently lives in Dallas. He is spending more and more time writing but also has an accounting degree, is a model and an exotic dancer. He finds his inspiration through being surrounded by women and listening to their fantasies. He also has quite a few fantasies of his own that he enjoys through writing.

Connect with Axl: Facebook / Website / Goodreads

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6769264Heart of a Hero by James Cox…

He made it to paradise on a lie…

Kallen is a hero. He single-handed ended the war. At least, that’s what everyone thinks. The truth is that he was at the right place at the right time. As the hero, he gets a room in the heavenly triple towers and enough mouths on his body to please him every hour of every day. However, guilt and danger rise when a man starts searching for the truth. When the investigator is this sexy, he may just blow his secret, among other things.

Lorn is furious when the spy among them is named as his dead younger brother. He is determined to find the truth of what happened even if it means destroying the nation’s hero or the man he’s slowly falling for.

In Kallen’s world, bravery will get a person killed, so how exactly is he supposed to prove to Lorn that he has the heart of a hero?

Be Warned: m/m sex, rimming, sex toys, spanking, bondage

A bit about James:

James is rather hard to define. He’s obviously into men, but also finds women alluring. To him reading gay fiction is so stimulating he’s taken up a pen (keyboard) and started writing. The stories in his head are edgy, hot enough to embarrass him at work and meant to entertain.

James’ day job is pathetic but a means to get the green. He lusts after his straight boss and always longed to paint nude men.

Connect with James: Facebook / Website / Blog / Goodreads

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Big fishy hugs to our honorary mermen, Axl and James, for sharing their love of romance today! CarleneLoveOkay readers, feel free to leave a little love for our authors and also share your thoughts on reading romance written by men. Does it intrigue you? Are you still a little leery? Do you already have a favorite male romance author? I will be picking one lucky commenter to go home with e-copies of both Primal Desire and your choice of Heart of a Hero or Under His Armor. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!

Happy reading!

Fishy kisses,

Carlene Mermaid

photo credit: http://www.americanenglish.state.gov/national-poetry-month-celebration

Deals with the Universe

mermaids, Pintip Dunn, Writing, , ,

In a little over a week, calls will be going out to notify writers of their finalist status in RWA’s RITA® and Golden Heart® contests. At this very moment, hundreds — if not thousands — of writers are fixated on a certain date, even as they try desperately to pintip-mermaid-300x231ignore it.

March 26. March 26. March 26.

I know this obsession well. Although I’m not entered this year, I was in the running for the previous three years. The wait and anticipation and nerves were nothing short of exquisite torture. What is unique about this “call” is that you know exactly when it’s coming — or not coming. The countdown to Call Day was enough to make me jump out of my skin.

That is, until fellow mermaid, Kimberly MacCarron, taught me a method for waiting. Now, Kim is brilliant for a number of things, but this may be her most brilliant idea yet. It’s called “Deals with the Universe,” and it’s as simple as it sounds. You say, “Hey, universe. Let me make a deal with you. If I do X by a certain date (where X is a challenging but realistic goal), then you’ll give me Y (where Y is anything you want).” And that’s it.

You can vary this structure however you would like. For example, I sometimes like to get fancy and make tiered goals. If I can write 25,000 words by Friday, the universe will give me A. If I can write 30,000 words, the universe will give me A & B. And so on. Also, I always share the wealth and include my friends in my deals.

This method is an effective way to wait on many levels. First, you’ll be so busy trying to hold up your end of the bargain, you won’t have time to feel anxious. Second, it gives you a sense of control about something over which you have no control. And third, and perhaps most importantly, if the Universe *doesn’t* come through — because it can be fickle like that — you can still feel good about yourself. Instead of wasting your time worrying, you instead had an extremely productive week that brought you that much closer to your goals.

And finally? It’s just fun! I’m the kind of person who likes to buy a lottery ticket so that I have the “right” to daydream about what I would do with the money. Similarly, I sometimes make outrageous deals with the universe just so I can imagine what it would be like if X, Y, and Z.

GOOD LUCK to everyone entered in the Golden Heart and RITA competitions this year. I am very excitedly cheering you on! And if you’re finding the wait to be unbearable . . . try making a deal with the universe.

You might just find the universe is good to you.

What deal would you like to make with the universe? What other methods of waiting would you recommend? Please share!