Villians Need Love Too

No I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth. I've been working sporadically on my plotting, reading Writing the Breakout Novel, and being paranoid about getting ready to return to the US. I think I've been reluctant about continuing to write because I have scenes written and though I'm not in love with them I might need to rework the entire excalating plot. This book is a lot of action and ramping up means adding some more. I thought about adding a subplot with her brother. A love subplot, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure what kind of subplots I should add. I haven't written the end because I need to work on the rest of the plot before I truly know what's going to happen in the climax. My villian keeps whispering his secrets to me. Why he's doing this. What he hopes to gain. What he's going to do next time. What would make him satisfied with the ending. How he's going to make things tough for more characters if I'm willing to write about them. He's got an agenda. He thinks that what he's doing will make everything better. He'd also like a little more POV. Currently there are two scenes in his POV, but he appears more than those. He's subtle, creative, intriquing and the epitomy of beauty in a male. What more can a woman ask from her villian. :) The question is "Is he evil?" My friend, only time will answer that question. Only time.

Workshops

Completely forgot Access Romance. They have courses coming up on Writing to Market and Writing a Silhouette Desire. They also allow you access to archived courses for $5 which is awesome.

One Contest Entered

I polished off the beginning of Fallen and had a few lovely people critique it. Now, I get to go through the rest of it. Replot to add in some subplots and figure out how to put it all into perspective. Oh, and wait until April to hear the results. Then I have a decision to make. Go back and revise Dragon's Heart or start the Time Travel. I guess it depends on how long Fallen takes. We have 9-1/2 weeks (catchy, eh?) before we head back to the US. So we'll see after I finish writing and revising whether I want to revise some more or research for the next one.

Getting Lost

I've been an idea generating machine lately. I haven't written much in my MS except to polish up the first 25 pages for a contest I want to enter. But I need to rework the plot and how I rework the plot may effect the ending I have yet to write. Ergo storyboard. However, that's been put on hold while I scurry around the house trying to make it look presentable for the friends that are coming to visit tomorrow for the weekend. I spent yesterday digging through the toy room sorting and organizing and making mad dashes for my notepad with cryptic lines like "His blood pulsed to the beat of a hundred drums. Louder and louder." and "The fires of hell licked at her boots, spurring her into action."

So, I've got to rip out the belly of my creation, smush it up, add some seasoning and a bit more fat, and throw it into the oven and see what comes out. Hopefully, I'll be able to get to a happily ever after without killing anyone, real or imaginary. You never know though. I've got to figure out turning points. Now, tell me, should there be a four or five turning points for each plot line or for the entire book?

Hmmm. Clean or storyboard? Clean .... or storyboard?

Writer's Workshops

There are tons of ways to take advantage of other author's paying it forward. Most will write some information in their blogs. Paperback Writer is the best I've found for this. There are writing groups through Yahoo that also provide free workshops. And then there are a number of online courses offered from RWA chapters and other websites. These are the websites I've found helpful (note this is not a comprehensive list, contrary to popular belief I do have to do things besides surf the Internet during the day):


Wine County Romance Writers, RWA - Their current listing includes "Mark that Historical Sold"(which I'm taking), "Create Characters So Real, So Passionate, You Can't Put Them Down, and Neither Will Your Readers", and "The Language of Liars". They have classes booked out through November 2008.


Writer U Classes last a month and cost $30. Courses currently coming up include "Plotting via Motivation", "Isn't It Romantic? Developing Romance in Your Romance Novel", and "PACING: How To Create A Page Turning Manuscript". Courses are available until November 2008.


Carolina Romance Writers Classes are between $15 and $20 for either a two week or four week course, respectively. Current listing includes courses regarding writer's block, outlining novel (first draft), and spilling the beans.

Washington Romance Writers The only class currently listed is "Dialogue that Dazzles" in February. RWA members only.

Heart of Dixie Classes are $20 for two week courses. Upcoming workshops deal with self-editing, family history fiction, and inside the mind of serial killers and those who track them.

Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America One class currently listed. "SCREENWRITING TECHNIQUES FOR NOVELISTS: HOW THE SEVENTH ART CAN RAMP UP YOUR PROSE"

From the Heart Romance Writers Classes cost $20. Current listings include "Anatomy of a Love Scene" and some classes to help with the business portion of writing including "Creating a Full Time Writing Business" and "How to Build an Internet Presence"

There are also many sites that have free information on them. Free! Here's a list of the one's in my favorites file right now (it continues to grow), also some of these may be a direct link to one article if you look around there may be more:

On Yahoo Groups - Write_Workshop · The Writing Workshop

http://www.steampunk.com/sfch/writing/ckilian/#3

http://www.emotionaltoolbox.com/etb/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=10&Itemid=89

http://hollylisle.com/fm/ - Holly Lisle also sells courses and e-books on writing

If it were only this easy, http://vava.essortment.com/howtowritea_rdcd.htm

http://www.lyndasimmons.com/workshopcurrent.html

http://www.svic.net/pearl/abc_subplots.html

http://www.caroclarke.com/threeabouts.html

http://www.fictionfactor.com/guests/plot.html

http://www.blockbusterplots.com/tips.html#trap

http://www.romance-central.com/index.php?name=News&catid=&topic=2

http://www.ericaridley.com/articles.php

So google search for something you're having difficulty with in writing and sometimes you'll just get a headache, but other times you'll find a whole lot more than you were looking for. Just try not to get bogged down in trying to learn to write. Writing is the best way to develop your own style and voice. I'll post later this week about blogs that I've found to be informative on writing.

Updated Show Me the Money

Curious what you could make in today's market as a Romance writer? Well, Brenda Hiatt has been collecting data to put together a comprehensive listing. Just remember when you start selling to send her your info (she keeps everything confidential). So, can you quit your day job? Go to her website and find out.

http://www.brendahiatt.com/id2.html

Storyboarding Blog-o-rama

I've found websites for the post-it multicolored board before and then lost them. What was lost now is found and shared with the rest of you all.

1. Julie Leto - PlotMonkeys post http://www.plotmonkeys.com/date/2007/05/05/
Interesting picture and nice layout technique, also the post is within a post on plotting with your pants on (for all those can't decide between plotting and pantsering(?))

2. Erica Ridley - Erica Writes post http://ericawrites.blogspot.com/2007/08/all-about-story-boards.html
Pictures to go with the words and step by step instructions

3. Carrie Ryan - Manuscript Mavens post http://manuscriptmavens.blogspot.com/2007/11/best-laid-plotting-boards.html
This is a post that will make you feel better if you can't seem to grasp a plotting board.

4. Diana Peterfreund - Diana Peterfreund post http://dianapeterfreund.blogspot.com/2007/07/son-of-plotting-board.html http://dianapeterfreund.blogspot.com/2007/08/book-signing-and-brand-new-plotting.html http://dianapeterfreund.blogspot.com/2006/09/plotting-board-redux-and-question-week.html http://dianapeterfreund.blogspot.com/2005/07/in-which-author-contemplates-structure_20.html
Lots and lots about plotting boards. The first one is step by step instructions

5. Rachel Vincent - Urbanfantasy blog post http://urbanfantasy.blogspot.com/2007/01/white-board-phase-2.html
Method using a whiteboard as the background

6. Patrice Michelle - Visual Plotting article http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=533
Response to Rachel Vincent's post

7. Maura Anderson - Realms of the Raven post http://realmsoftheraven.blogspot.com/search/label/Writerly%20Wednesday
http://realmsoftheraven.blogspot.com/2007/12/devil-is-in-plot-details.html
http://realmsoftheraven.blogspot.com/2007/12/refining-big-picture.html
A step by step tutorial on her storyboard technique with pictures.

8. Kelly Parra - Words of a Writer post http://writerwords.blogspot.com/ 12/31/07
Shares her storyboard from her recent project, also notes she doesn't make it up until after she finishes her first draft.

I'll keep trying to add more.