Highlight #3: Meeting Up with Long-time E-mail Colleagues and Friends
When I decided I wanted to write romance, I joined RWA. The first chapter of RWA I joined was HeartBeat RWA, the chapter for those who write and support medical romance. For over a year, I have been chatting online with several members and it felt like a family reunion when I finally got to meet everyone.
It was nice to finally meet Dianne Despain, Julie Rowe, Mona Risk, Lynne Marshall, Molly Evans, Janice Lynn, Robin Haseltine, Laura Iding . . . I know I missed someone. So sorry about that.
You know, now that I think about it, the whole conference felt like a family reunion. I can't wait for next year.
BKB :-)
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Why I Loved This Year's RWA Conference, Part Deux
Highlight #2: Meeting Mills&Boon Editors
More than a year ago, I decided that I wanted to write for Harlequin Romance. I have spent my time reading and studying the lines . . . and writing.
I wanted to meet the editors so they could put a face to my name when I submitted. "Hey, here's that crazy American's submission."
Through a bid on Brenda Novak's auction for Diabetes, I was fortunate enough to sit with Suzanne Clarke during a lunch on Wednesday. I also met editors Lucy Gilmour and Sally Williamson (pictured below).
(The above picture was taken from the Pink Heart Society blog.)
All three were very knowledgeable and fun to meet. It was also nice to see the camaraderie among editors and authors.
I think the one thing I carry away from my conversations is the word E-M-O-T-I-O-N. If you want to write for Mills&Boon, emotion is what they want to see and feel. More on this in my next post.
BKB :-)
More than a year ago, I decided that I wanted to write for Harlequin Romance. I have spent my time reading and studying the lines . . . and writing.
I wanted to meet the editors so they could put a face to my name when I submitted. "Hey, here's that crazy American's submission."
Through a bid on Brenda Novak's auction for Diabetes, I was fortunate enough to sit with Suzanne Clarke during a lunch on Wednesday. I also met editors Lucy Gilmour and Sally Williamson (pictured below).
(The above picture was taken from the Pink Heart Society blog.)
All three were very knowledgeable and fun to meet. It was also nice to see the camaraderie among editors and authors.
I think the one thing I carry away from my conversations is the word E-M-O-T-I-O-N. If you want to write for Mills&Boon, emotion is what they want to see and feel. More on this in my next post.
BKB :-)
Saturday, August 2, 2008
In Progress . . .
Something's up with my computer, so I can't post the graphics on my word counts for today. Oh, well.
Wife for a Candidate (Series Contemp.)
600/50,000
A Capitol Compromise (Series Contemp.)
36,000/50,000
Guillermo's List (3rd Rewrite)
78,250/100,000
BKB :-)
Wife for a Candidate (Series Contemp.)
600/50,000
A Capitol Compromise (Series Contemp.)
36,000/50,000
Guillermo's List (3rd Rewrite)
78,250/100,000
BKB :-)
One Degree of Separation (aka Why I Loved This Year's RWA Conference, Part I)
Okay, so, lots and lots and lots of fun things happened at this year's conference for me, but I only have time to add tidbits each day.
Highlight #1: Meeting M&B Author Trish Wylie
Trish Wylie writes for both Harlequin Romance and Modern Heat and, of course, I wanted to meet her because I adore both lines. But, I had an ulterior motive, what I call the one degree of separation.
Before going to the conference, Trish took a trip to ComicCon in San Diego. And who did she meet?
Well, I don't know if she actually met him, but she was close enough to take the above picture. Check out her blog, she has other pictures from the conference. And great writing tips as well.
Trish was very nice and it was a joy to meet her. Thanks for humoring me, Trish.
BKB :-)
Highlight #1: Meeting M&B Author Trish Wylie
Trish Wylie writes for both Harlequin Romance and Modern Heat and, of course, I wanted to meet her because I adore both lines. But, I had an ulterior motive, what I call the one degree of separation.
Before going to the conference, Trish took a trip to ComicCon in San Diego. And who did she meet?
Well, I don't know if she actually met him, but she was close enough to take the above picture. Check out her blog, she has other pictures from the conference. And great writing tips as well.
Trish was very nice and it was a joy to meet her. Thanks for humoring me, Trish.
BKB :-)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Lesson: The Inciting Event
What is the event that starts it all for your story? Is it a bomb that devastates an area or is it a woman’s proclamation to her boyfriend or the world? Do you have an inciting event?
While you think about it, let’s start with a definition.
Incite: To provoke an action; to stir up. (The American Heritage Dictionary).
That makes sense, doesn’t it? If a story is a series of stimuli and reactions, you have to have something to start it all, right?
The inciting event sets up how the chain reaction of events and emotions evolve through your characters.
Let’s look at a couple of examples:
An obvious one from a great writer is the event in The Survivors Club by Lisa Gardner: A sniper waits to shoot his prey. He succeeds. Then, he, too, is murdered.
The Pact by Jodi Picoult: One short paragraph that describes the shooting during a teenage suicide pact.
It’s not hard to have characters respond to these type of incidents. The inciting event doesn’t have to be as dramatic as the above examples.
If you’re writing romance, the Harlequin website discusses the inciting event in their “Learn to Write” area. Click here and read "Acting Up: The Three Act Structure."
BKB :-)
While you think about it, let’s start with a definition.
Incite: To provoke an action; to stir up. (The American Heritage Dictionary).
That makes sense, doesn’t it? If a story is a series of stimuli and reactions, you have to have something to start it all, right?
The inciting event sets up how the chain reaction of events and emotions evolve through your characters.
Let’s look at a couple of examples:
An obvious one from a great writer is the event in The Survivors Club by Lisa Gardner: A sniper waits to shoot his prey. He succeeds. Then, he, too, is murdered.
The Pact by Jodi Picoult: One short paragraph that describes the shooting during a teenage suicide pact.
It’s not hard to have characters respond to these type of incidents. The inciting event doesn’t have to be as dramatic as the above examples.
If you’re writing romance, the Harlequin website discusses the inciting event in their “Learn to Write” area. Click here and read "Acting Up: The Three Act Structure."
BKB :-)
Monday, July 21, 2008
In Progress . . . Week 1
Here's my current WIPs:
Wife for A Candidate (Contemp. Series)
A Capitol Compromise (Contemp. Series)
Guillermo's List (Mainstream)-- Rewrite#3
Instead of posting these at the bottom of the blog, I am going to post them once a week to show my progress.
BKB :-)
Wife for A Candidate (Contemp. Series)
/
A Capitol Compromise (Contemp. Series)
/
Guillermo's List (Mainstream)-- Rewrite#3
/
Instead of posting these at the bottom of the blog, I am going to post them once a week to show my progress.
BKB :-)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Here We (I) Go Again!
Mills&Boon is having another contest. The target for this contest is for their Modern Heat line. If you haven't read this line, I suggest you do. It is absolutely wonderful and enticing. I know I am in for a fun read when I pick one of the books up. Two of the authors are up for RITAs this year.
Since this was the line I was trying to target with the Instant Seduction contest, I will be entering again.
Details of the contest are here.
Good luck to everyone who enters!
BKB :-)
Since this was the line I was trying to target with the Instant Seduction contest, I will be entering again.
Details of the contest are here.
Good luck to everyone who enters!
BKB :-)
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