Last week at the second session of the writer’s workshop at the Huntington Library, I spoke with a friend who asked me to read her work. In the course of our discussion, I couldn’t believe what came out of my mouth. I said: “Do you want to tell a story or do you want to sell a book? They can be two very different things.” I have probably taken more than 5 university-sanctioned writing courses, mainly focused on creative writing, and after all that work and all those courses, I didn’t learn nearly as much as I did in that two hours at the library.
Whether we like it or not, writing is a business. You can be the best writer in the world, have the best story in the world, but it will never see the light of day if you are not out there selling it. I remember two teachers in junior high both telling me, You can wallpaper your walls with the rejection slips. What a way to nuture a 13 year old’s budding writing talent — to insinuate she’ll be a failure even before she starts! I realize now what they were trying to tell me was that I was good, and it would take alot of effort to break through the noise of all the other writers out there who were also good.
As we answered questions from the workshop participants, I began to think about where my own WIP was in relation. I thought I was telling the story of my heroine, and I realized I am actually telling the story of a secondary character. Some reworking is definitely in order if I want to turn this into a seller.
What about you? Are you telling or selling?
Don’t forget to join the published writers of Dunes and Dreams at the Amagansett Free Library on March 14 at 1:30 for The Love of Romance Novels: why people read them, what makes them special, why and how we write them. For more information, visit http://amaglibrary.suffolk.lib.ny.us/
Laura Hitchens has been writing since she was eight years old! A writer by trade, Laura has written non-fiction articles, papers and websites. Now, she's excited about writing fiction! Follow her adventures while she pens her romance novels on her blog http://life-with-lorelei.blogspot.com.Hey, guess what? It’s snowing!!!
again.
Besides school kids and snowplow drivers, is there anyone out there excited to see another weather map coated in white swirls?
Not me. Two days ago, I could finally see my lawn peeking through the frozen stuff left by the last storm Mother Nature dumped on us. For me, it was a hint of life ready to be renewed in spring. My heart breathed a sigh of relief. Could the crocus be far behind? Now my poor grass is buried again. And the crocus will have to wait a little longer before flashing their purple glory for me.
Sometimes, writing is like this winter’s been. Just when I think I’m clear and the story’s completely visible to me, a storm cloud of ideas buries me once again. And then it’s time to pull out the shovel and try to clear a path to The End.
I recently decided to dig up an old unpublished manuscript with the goal of finding it a home. I’ve always been fond of the story and was tired of seeing it sitting, unloved, on my desktop. So I opened the document with the same trepidation I had when I peeked out the window this morning. <Sigh!> There’s probably about 6-10 inches of snow covering the life in those pages. Forget the crocus. Somewhere buried beneath the avalanche of excess narrative, head-hopping, telling rather than showing, and all those other early writer mistakes, there’s a perfect rose.
It’s up to me to strap on my boots, grab the shovel, and clear the path. But like winter, editing doesn’t last forever. So come spring, I’ll not only have my flowers, I’ll have a sellable manuscript.
What about you?
Gina Ardito writes lighthearted contemporary romance. Her alter ego, Katherine Brandon, writes sweeping historicals. While Gina is the co-founder and current President of Dunes & Dreams, Katherine avoids politics and maintains a low profile. Find out more about both authors by visiting their respective websites: www.ginaardito.com and www.katherinebrandon.comOh Valentine’s Day! This is the day made for romance writers, isn’t it? I really think there should be some national recognition of the day, something done to honor all those who work hard to keep romance alive and give life to this day. And yes, I am talking about us. The card makers, florists, and jewelers have made this day all about the gift and the romantic dinner. But it is so much more. Capturing that so much more on paper isn’t always so easy, and those that do it well should be recognized on this day.
We had a very exciting meeting on February 13 with a visit from Frank Mosca and a discussion about characterization. What makes a hero a hero? What makes a heroine who she is? Why are all the other characters who provide backstory and angst so important, or not? It was a very thought-provoking discussion that moved from characterization to “how do I handle this in my story?” It was great to give input and get feedback and enjoy the collective creativity that comes from being part of a group like this.
Our next meeting isn’t until March 20, but there is a great online workshop beginning March 1. Past Life Regression for the Writers’ Soul: A New Approach to Character Creation with Dawna Richard promises to be a highlight of the month, whether you are interested in exploring the possibility of a past life or you are just looking for that next story idea. You can register here or by visiting www.dunesanddreams.org.
Here’s to you, my fellow romance writers! Hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day, and that your writing days are even better!
Laura Hitchens has been writing since she was eight years old! A writer by trade, Laura has written non-fiction articles, papers and websites. Now, she's excited about writing fiction! Follow her adventures while she pens her romance novels on her blog http://life-with-lorelei.blogspot.com.Well, I made it to Dallas. Since my arrival, New York had another snowstorm and it is currently snowing here so now my return home is in jeopardy. I thought, you can’t make this stuff up, then I realized — we can and we do, all the time! I’ve had some good opportunities to get some writing done and as a special treat, a friend took me to the weekly meeting of the Dallas Fort Worth Writer’s Workshop. This group has been meeting every week for the past 33 years and welcomes writers of all genres at all stages. It was a fairly large meeting, close to 35 people, who break up into smaller critique groups. Several people have ten minutes to read, then the group gets five to ten minutes to critique. The group I was in had people reading a children’s story, a memoir, and chapters from a non-fiction work, a sci-fi fantasy, and a contemporary mystery/romance.
At first, I could not see the value in this. I could hear the words from the Huntington library talk in my head: “Read, and not just what you write.” But as the night wore on and the critiques began, even of different works, I was able to apply the comments to my own patterns as a writer and began to see how coming each week could be a great forum for testing out your work. I would have to be very careful, though, not to let it shape too much of my writing as it developed.
I also met a woman active in both the North Texas and Dallas chapters of RWA who invited me to visit their meetings if I’m in town at that time. She’ll also be at the RWA national conference in July.
I don’t think I would have had the courage do to any of this if I had not joined Dunes and Dreams. No matter what the IRS says, writing is not a hobby. It is hard work, whether you are published or not. You’re either reading, writing, researching, sending queries, preparing submissions, entering contests… truly there can be no greater myth than the leisurely life of a writer!
Laura Hitchens has been writing since she was eight years old! A writer by trade, Laura has written non-fiction articles, papers and websites. Now, she's excited about writing fiction! Follow her adventures while she pens her romance novels on her blog http://life-with-lorelei.blogspot.com.This week has been full of unexpected surprises. It started last Saturday, with the Huntington Library workshop. I was able to hear information I had always intuitively known presented in a formal way. I was also able to see that many aspiring writers abound, and that to tell a story is an innate passion within the human soul. I learned a lot about planning, too!
Then I made my arrangements to attend the annual Romance Writers of America national conference. I had wanted to attend last year, but didn’t think I was ready. Now, along with other Dunes and Dreams members, I can’t wait to go!
Onto the tightly crafted on-line workshop with Bob Mayer titled Conflict – The Fuel of Your Story. This was amazing in its sheer simplicity — identify your story idea succinctly and return to it as a consistent guide throughout your writing. It’s not as easy as it sounds! The two on-line workshops I’ve taken so far have really pushed my writing forward. I can’t wait for the March workshop on Past Life Regression for the Writers’ Soul: A New Approach to Character Creation with Dawna Richard. You can sign up by clicking here or by visiting http://www.dunesanddreams.org.
Today, I was supposed to leave for a trip to Dallas. I get very excited about getting on a plane because it means WRITING TIME! No phone, no distractions…I was really looking forward to it. Until the airline called me last night to tell me my flight was cancelled. So I rebooked for Sunday, expecting we’d all be dug out of the storm by then.
Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning and there was no snow…maybe a little bit of dust. Since I no longer had to be at the airport, I had planned a glorious morning of staying in bed, wrapped warm in my comforter, then venturing over to the window to see the glittering white winter wonderland that awaited me. But there was nothing. A day I wasn’t snowbound, sure, but I day I wasn’t on my way to Dallas, either. I thought about this in context of my writing. How many times do I play out a scene in my head, only to get it on paper and find that it doesn’t work? All the elements are there, but just like that storm, a mile off course here or there, and it’s not happening. How many times do I position my heroine to be snowbound and shoveling out when she takes me in a different direction?
The airline called again. I can’t fly out tomorrow, either. At first I was bummed, but then I thought, What would my heroine do now???
Stay tuned.
Laura Hitchens has been writing since she was eight years old! A writer by trade, Laura has written non-fiction articles, papers and websites. Now, she's excited about writing fiction! Follow her adventures while she pens her romance novels on her blog http://life-with-lorelei.blogspot.com.Yesterday, members of Dunes & Dreams RWA hosted the first of a four-part workshop, “From Once Upon a Time to Happily Ever After: Turning Your Dreams Into a Book” at the Huntington Public Library. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to discover our room taken by the Defensive Driving class!
But the staff of the library quickly regrouped to set us up in the auditorium. Good thing, too. The auditorium was packed with people–all ages, both genders, all experience levels; all with one thing in common. They wanted insight into the writing process; how to start, how to keep going, how to finish, and how to achieve their own dreams.
In Session I, we began with the ideas of Goal, Motivation, and Conflict, segued into Characterization, Dialogue & Narrative, and ended with Plotting. We even came up with a new name for Debora Dennis’s unique plotting materials: The White Board of Destiny. (Thanks, Trisha!) The enthusiasm in the room was contagious. Questions popped up from every corner. And our ladies provided informed answers that left the crowd intrigued, amused, and delighted.
At the end of the day’s lecture, we were bombarded by attendees who wanted additional information or wanted to tell us how much they enjoyed the talk and their plans to return for all three remaining sessions. (One lady from Washington, D.C. who’d attended on a lark with her friend told Candace Gold she intends to make a return trip just to attend the second session on February 27th!)
Even if you missed the first session, feel free to contact the Huntington Library to register for Session II, which will cover The Sagging Middle, Pacing, Finding a Critique Partner or Group, and other helpful necessities of writing. The event will take place on Saturday, February 27 from 10 am-12 pm.
Join us! We’d love to see you there. (And if my gentleman of Irish descent is coming back, the coffee’s on me this time! You’re a regular, right?)
Tags: Library Talk
Gina Ardito writes lighthearted contemporary romance. Her alter ego, Katherine Brandon, writes sweeping historicals. While Gina is the co-founder and current President of Dunes & Dreams, Katherine avoids politics and maintains a low profile. Find out more about both authors by visiting their respective websites: www.ginaardito.com and www.katherinebrandon.comWhile I was growing up, there was not a lot of money in my family. My parents were not professionals and there was a boatload of mouths to feed (I’m the fifth of seven children). Life for me was a series of hand-me-downs, hand-sewn garments (At one time, I had pajamas, a dress, and bedroom curtains all made out of the same fabric!) and doing without. There were no fancy vacations to Cape Cod or the Grand Canyon, no big parties with tons of presents, and very few luxuries in our day-to-day lives. Ice cream sundaes were a treat we received only on our birthdays–the banana barge from Carvel, which we’d eat slowly to prolong the bliss for a full week. Ever defrost and refreeze bananas over several days? Trust me, they lose flavor pretty quickly. But I digress…
The one memory from those years I count as my favorite occurred when my father lost his job right before Christmas. I think I was about thirteen or so. With even less money than usual for gifts, my mother and I spent our time in the basement: sewing pajamas, aprons, and other garments. My younger siblings drew pictures and made potholders out of rag strips. My older siblings gave up their Christmas gifts so the children could still believe in Santa. Even so, our stockings were filled with nuts and fruit. There were no toys under the tree that year. In fact, our Christmas tree was what came to be known as “the poor tree,” a twenty-year-old pink and silver artificial shrub my parents had had stuffed in the attic since the early days of their marriage. Charlie Brown’s little tree could put it to shame.
Why am I reminiscing about a Christmas that occurred more than thirty years ago when the current calendar is about to flip to February? Because that year I learned a lesson that has stayed with me ever since–a lesson I’ve passed on to my own children. Two nights before that Christmas, friends and neighbors presented my family with a tremendous basket filled with fruit, candy, small toys, and food for our holiday dinner. I’m not sure how all those people knew of our circumstances–my parents were extremely proud and not prone to discuss such trials with outsiders. But the bounty of that gift, the warmth of generosity that enfolded us, made an extremely difficult time one of joy for my parents, my siblings, and me.
That was when I truly learned the value of giving.
My children know the feeling well: I remember my then ten-year-old daughter selling handmade items to raise money for the victims of 9/11; my now twelve-year-old son recently turned over three weeks’ worth of his allowance to buy care packages for American soldiers fighting overseas. Now both have decided to pool resources to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Neither my daughter nor my son ever told me of their intentions before donating their hard-earned money. They do so because they truly know how blessed they are with their lives, their homes, and their family. And because there is no greater feeling in the world than the warmth that overflows your heart when you know you’ve given someone less fortunate a chance to smile–even for a day.
Until today, I’ve never shared this particular memory with my fellow chaptermates of Dunes & Dreams. I do so now for a very good reason. Recently, I began the planning for this year’s Multi-Author Booksigning to benefit Literacy Suffolk. According to their website, one in seven adults in Suffolk County are functionally illiterate, 75% of unemployed adults do not read, and nearly 45% of those below the poverty level don’t possess the reading and writing skills necessary to improve their lives or the lives of their families.
These are hard times for everyone. Unemployment is up, the housing market is dying, and we’re all tying our belts a little tighter. The authors who’ve volunteered to participate in this event do not do so for accolades, publicity, or for undying gratitude from the masses. We do so because it’s a chance to give back to the communities that have been so good to us. It’s a chance to revitalize our floundering neighborhoods. It’s a chance to provide readers and writers for the future generations.
If you’re an author, consider joining us behind the tables. If you’re a reader, perhaps you’ll consider buying a book or two at the event. A few dollars, a few signatures, and a few hours could benefit us all in the long run.
This year’s event will take place at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic on Saturday, May 8 from 12-3 pm. Join us. A simple gesture could have long-reaching results.
Tags: Booksigning, Dunes and Dreams RWA, Pindar Booksigning, Proud romance writers, Suffolk Literacy
Gina Ardito writes lighthearted contemporary romance. Her alter ego, Katherine Brandon, writes sweeping historicals. While Gina is the co-founder and current President of Dunes & Dreams, Katherine avoids politics and maintains a low profile. Find out more about both authors by visiting their respective websites: www.ginaardito.com and www.katherinebrandon.comI can’t believe it is the end of January already! Kelly Stone’s workshop on how to find the time to write opened my eyes big time to the process of excuses I make not to get the writing done. Or rather, I should say the excuses I formerly made….
Unable to stand the stress of my daily life any longer, I decided to take a long weekend and visit a friend in sunny Florida (which has not been so sunny but much, much warmer than New York). Another flew in from Abu Dabi, UAE, and another from London was in town for a convention. At one point I thought, hey, this is starting to sound like one of my novels, because right now this little group of us is scattered across the globe. Not quite the type of jet setting my characters do, but it made me realize that you never really get that far away from your writing or the books in your head.
However, it was crucial to take this break. Just the different scenery has allowed me to relax, do some plotting, and get my characters in line. I will return to New York eager for what’s up next — the Dunes and Dreams workshop at the Huntington Library, the February workshop with Bob Mayer, and my French heiress desperately searching for her brother….
Prescription: Take a day out of your element, even if you can’t get on a plane. Take a few hours even, to regroup and refresh. You’ll be glad you did, and your book will, too.
Laura Hitchens has been writing since she was eight years old! A writer by trade, Laura has written non-fiction articles, papers and websites. Now, she's excited about writing fiction! Follow her adventures while she pens her romance novels on her blog http://life-with-lorelei.blogspot.com.It’s your birthday and you deserve the best. You should take the day off, have a massage, get your nails done and have a date with Raoul.
But don’t forget to get me with you!
You deserve the best, girl! Happy Birthday and a zillion more. Love ya!
Candy
Together, Candace Gold and her alter-ego, Candy Caine, who writes the edgier, hot and sassy stories, have published over 200 short stories and two novels. They try to live together harmoniously on Long Island, NY, with her husband, Robert. Supportive with her writing career, he’s always willing to help her make certain the scenes for her Candy Caine stories are authentic. Read more about Candace and Candy at her website www.CandaceGold.comShe’s our web diva, tech expert, forum leader, President-Elect, workshop coordinator, newsletter editor…is it any wonder we’d be lost without her? I’m constantly amazed at how much she can juggle–and how well!
Debora Dennis is an outstanding chaptermate, a good friend, and a super-talented writer. She’s quick with a smile and always up for any challenge tossed her way.
She’s one of the best assets of Dunes & Dreams RWA and today, she celebrates her birthday. I wish you joy, dear friend. I wish you laughter because you always bring me so much of it. I wish you love. And I wish you a well-deserved multi-book contract in the coming year.
Tags: birthday, Debora Dennis
Gina Ardito writes lighthearted contemporary romance. Her alter ego, Katherine Brandon, writes sweeping historicals. While Gina is the co-founder and current President of Dunes & Dreams, Katherine avoids politics and maintains a low profile. Find out more about both authors by visiting their respective websites: www.ginaardito.com and www.katherinebrandon.com
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