Tag Archives: Romance

Developing Character Characteristics

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This is probably one of the most difficult things for me to do.  In the past I’d simply start writing and the characters came to life, the plot  magically developed, and the story came together without any effort.  I wrote without focusing on any single element I’ve since been taught must be a part of a writer’s checklist.

If I know who my characters are–what inciting moment(s) in their earlier lives made them into who they are as adults then answering each “why” (whether or not it ever comes out in the story)–will allow me to clearly see their GMCs.  Once I know their GMCs, it will be easy to develop the plot and sub-plots wherein the h/h’s internal and external goals and motivations clash. 

A good character arc is worth everything, and there has to be plausible reasons for their internal conflict and how they grow and change by the end.  Knowing each character inside and out before I start should lead to tighter writing and more compelling characters with believable personalities.

Luckily, all of these elements made it into all my stories, but I’ll not take any chances in the future.  :-)

Happy writing, all!

Lis’Anne

Under the Gun

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I’m up for a quick breath of air.  I’ve been working hard on my medieval paranormal romance in preparation for entering this story in the Golden Heart®.  Thank heavens I have the invaluable support of my Inkplots and Writivators.  :-)   A special thanks goes to Miss Rita Henuber.  That lady really knows how to force you to make each word count!

Happy writing, everyone!

Lis’Anne

Interview with Valerie Bowman, Historical Romance Author

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Valerie Bowman

Valerie Bowman

Valerie Bowman tells us the path she took to “wowing” Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.  Thank you for sharing your story with us, Valerie!

Lis’Anne:

What was your first step after completing your manuscript?

Valerie:

This is a good question! The first thing I did after completing my first manuscript was write another one! I wanted to make sure I had it in me to produce more than one manuscript before I even thought about getting published.

Lis’Anne:

How did you choose which agents to query?

Valerie:

I wanted to make sure that I was querying the *right* agents so I asked a published friend about it and she sent a message out to the PAN RWA loop asking the published authors which of their agents really liked historicals. I write Regencies and I wanted to ensure that my queries had the best shot at capturing the agents’ attention. I got a list of about 6 agents who really love historicals and were actively acquiring and selling and went from there.

Lis’Anne:

Why query agents rather than going straight to editors with your manuscript?

Valerie:

I wanted to stay out of the slush pile and have the best shot at a sale with an editor. I believe an agent is the best way to go about doing that. Plus, I figured if my writing wasn’t good enough to capture an agent’s attention, I needed to work on it more.

Lis’Anne:

How did you handle rejections?

Valerie:

Rejections are tough, no question about it, and they always seem to arrive in your mailbox on the day your dog dies or you’re sick or something, don’t they? But for me, they’re part of the challenge that makes the path to publication that much more enjoyable. No one ever said it was going to be easy!

Lis’Anne:

What did you do when you received your offer of representation?

Valerie:

I said, “Yes, thank you!”

Lis’Anne:

Now that you have an agent, what’s the next step?

Valerie:

I’m currently working on the revisions to my manuscript that my agent has requested. After those are approved, my agent and I will work on the proposal letter to submit to editors. This is an exciting new step in the journey and I cannot wait to begin!

Thank you so much for having me, Lis’Anne!

Lis’Anne:

You’re welcome here anytime!  Thank you for showing us the steps you’ve taken on your road to publication.

Please feel free to ask Miss Valerie any questions you may have.  She’ll be here until 5p.m. today.

Special Author Interviews Sunday 6/14/09

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How to Attract an Agent:  Interviews with Golden Heart® Finalist Rita Henuber and Historical Writer Valerie G. Bowman

Greetings!

Coming this Sunday 6/14, I’ll be interviewing Golden Heart ® Finalist Rita Henuber, Romantic Suspense Author, on the fascinating and instructive steps she took to achieve her dream of landing top literary agent Jessica Faust of Book Ends Literary Agency, LLC.

Following Miss Rita’s interview, Valerie G. Bowman, Regency Romance Author, will stop by and give us the low-down on her whirlwind signing with agent Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

I’m sure both authors’ answers will help point us unpublished writers down the right path to “agentdom” and publication.  The ladies will be available to answer any questions you may have after noon on Sunday only.  If you’re already agented/published, then just stop by to say hello if you’d like!

We hope to see you there.  :-)

Lis’Anne

Writing Retreat

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Friday evening dinner was amazing.  Lobster, saffron rice, salad, and passion fruit sherbet…yum!  We talked for hours about everything under the romance publishing sun.  The margaritas were awesome!

Saturday we spent an intensive hour or longer on each person in attendance.  We brainstormed on each until every writer was saturated with sizzling ideas for amping up their wip.  Everyone was so stoked no one wanted to leave to go out to eat.  The Sangria punch was ambrosia.  :-)

Sunday morning our hostess outdid herself with an incredible breakfast.  Our discussions on writing continued.  We toasted the success of our retreat with delicious mimosas.  Although we were all sad to say goodbye, I’m sure (like me) everyone was anxious to get home and get busy incorporating all we gleaned into our mss.

I believe a great time was had by all.  :-)  

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GOALS for week ending 5/23/09:

Hone opening hook in TCH

Continue edits/revisions in TCH

Research marketing

Work on website

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A writing buddy posted this quote to one of our loops.  I love it, try to live it, and feel it’s worthy of sharing here.

“Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see the shadow.”  ~Helen Keller 

Happy writing all!

Lis’Anne

Weekend in PCB

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My brother’s wedding on Panama City Beach was beautiful.  I had a wonderful visit with family–time flew by too quickly.  Dad and I discussed an upcoming historical romance novel we plan to write.  I obviously get my wild imagination from him.  :-)   Hopefully, I’ll be vacationing with him and the rest of the family for a couple of weeks in July up on the Ohio River.  Dad has a wonderful riverfront oasis.  Last year it was so perfectly peaceful I never wanted to leave.

I forgot all about the bi-monthly Inkplots critique meeting tomorrow.  That’s now squeezed in before dashing off to St. Augustine for a writing retreat over the weekend.   Busy, busy over here.

I’ve been talking with many other writers about how best to market ourselves before and after publication.  We’ll be discussing this topic more in-depth at the retreat.  If any unique ideas come to light I’ll be sure to pass them on; othewise, I haven’t given it as much thought as I’d hoped over the past week.  Too much other stuff occupying my thoughts.

I hope everyone’s writerly imagination is soaring!  I’ll catch up with y’all next week.

Lis’Anne

Romance Survives Tough Economy

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Author Rita Henuber posted this video to one of our writing loops. This one’s definitely worth sharing. It gives all of us hope to see our own stories published one day–soon with any luck!

more about "Romance Survives Tough Economy", posted with vodpod

18th Century Feminism?

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I write historical romance.  I am a 21st century feminist.  I can’t create my heroines as 18th century feminists because it just isn’t true to the time–at least not for the majority of women.  While females of that era probably dreamed of having more rights than they had, it would be totally out of historical accuracy to portray them with 21st century ideals of equality.

 

Sometimes I throw my heroines into unpalatable situations in which they are forced to endure.  If my ladies start out as kick-ass chicks then how will they grow throughout the story?  The positions of distasteful circumstance I place my heroines are very real in the18th century.  Many men were barbarous and their superior rights allowed them to treat women as chattel.  There were exceptions to the rule; those men of great intelligence combined with power, strength, and compassion are the stuff of which my heroes are made.

 

By The End of my stories my heroines have indeed triumphed over the villains who attempted to use, abuse, and suppress them.  They become kick-ass ladies and live happily ever after.  :-)

 

Lis’Anne

To Contest, or Not To Contest…

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We intended to scope out a Gulf beach we’d never been to, but apparently the freaking bridge is out until the Fall of 2009.  Fine by me…it was a perfect day for working outside.

 

Before heading out the door to pressure wash the pool this morning, I picked up the newest issue of RWR (Romance Writer’s Report) and flipped to the contests section in the back.  I entered the Beacon in 2007, and placed 2nd in the historical division.  I made several newbie mistakes that were sure to bar me from 1st place, but over-all I was happier than an armadillo with a cozy nest and an endless supply of ants.  I always think I might enter another one, but can never decide which one.  I just can’t see forking over $25-$35 for 2-3 critiques of my first 25-30 pages.  (I have several critique partners who don’t charge me a dime. :-)  )  If I were fortunate enough to final and have my entry read by an editor, I think it’s a stretch to think that editor will ask for a full, and offer a contract.  I know it happens, but I’m more likely to get run over by a Mac truck.

 

I discovered there are some bargain contests that just might be worthy of my regard.  A couple are cheap enough that I could enter two for the price of one.  I don’t think I’d enter based on the final judge, nor for the critiques.  I would like to know where a few objective readers would put my story–in the tank, or top three.

 

Entering the Golden Heart briefly crossed my mind, but the $50 fee was a tad steep for me in this economy.  I have several friends who’ve entered–thankfully, all in different sub-genres.  I hope they each win in their category!

 

Happy contesting!

 

Lis’Anne