Plotopaluza at RWA!

Today was plotopaluza at my second chapter meeting with RWA and even though I wasn't able to get my work critiqued or discussed, it was still VERY inspirational. Below are my notes.

A = Ordinary World

B = Call to adventure, some issue presented

C = Bad things happening

D = Cross the threshold, answer to call to adventure

E = Gathering friends and allies

F = Point of no return, must go on

G = Things fall apart

H = Crisis, black moment is emotional, a sacrifice

I = Resolution, hero and heroine together, they’ve accommodated changes to their lives.

J = Happy ever after

GMC – Goal, motivation and conflict (book, Debra Dixon)

Protagonist has internal goal (emotionally) and an external goal.

Motivation, internal (what does it represent to you) and external.

Conflict, villain or antagonist also has a goal and motivation. Mutually exclusive between antagonist and protagonist.

Internal and external have to connect, proves an emotional lesson (something keeping them from love, internal = trust). Tells how hero and heroine learn their lessons to emotional growth.

Questions to ask when plotting for hero/heroine:

What does the Hero/Heroine want?

What will happen if he gets it?

External goal?

Internal goal?

What is the internal and external conflict of Hero/Heroine?

What I Learned Today: Part II

Here are my notes from my first meeting with the Cactus Rose Romance Writer's of America Chapter. Today our workshop was How To Write a Synopsis. They're very brief, but I think you'll get the point.

Catch the reader’s attention and keep it. Time and setting, evolution of the relationship, clearly define characters, clearly define the conflict that prevents them from being together.

If the happy ever after doesn’t happen in the first book it needs to be happy for now.

Every romance has two plots: the romance and the environmental plot. Have to fit together. Romance plot is foremost.

Too many characters in the synopsis will be overwhelming.

Concentrate on the hero/heroine/villain.

Don’t drown the agent/editor in too much irrelevant information.

Find balance between romance and suspense.

FIRST PARAGRAPH of Synopsis: Catch/hook. Time and setting. What’s the main problem for the two main characters?

Clearly define the romance in the synopsis to keep it Romance.

Clearly define characters, who they are, not what they do. Synopsis needs to be character driven, not plot driven. How does it affect people emotionally? Include growth of the characters.

Use an active voice, keep the language limited that matches the tone of the book.

Plot points are major turning points, use these instead of an outline.

Learning about writing: Reading, critiquing, judging contests.

WHEN THEY FALL IN LOVE AND ADMIT IT: BOOK OVER. What draw them together, why do these people fall in love?

Major turning points implicate the romantic relationship, make it grow or turn sour. Trust plays a huge roll in romance.

Suspense: want suspenseful and angst-like verbs.

Love triangle: feelings for one man need to be stronger than the other.

Capitalize all main character names, lets the reader know whose important.

Make readers believe they know my characters as much as I do in the synopsis.

What I Learned Today: Part I

Revisions aren't going very well with All or Nothing. I got up to about Chapter 2 and decided to start all over again then made the decision to leave it alone for a week. As you can imagine, it's now been two weeks and I haven't even thought about revisions or starting on my paranormal romance. Getting used to working again has its downside and for me writing is one of them. No worries though. As of two days ago, with the news of my membership in RWA, I've revived a little of my motivation. Starting Monday, it's back to revisions on All or Nothing, but today I worked on my paranormal. This is where my post title comes in. Today I learned a lot about my main character in Demon of Life. I knew little bits and pieces about her then turned to the character questionnaire I posted a few weeks ago. I've only toyed with the questionnaire AFTER my characters have a life of their own, but this time I started with it and was amazed by what I discovered. Not only does she now have siblings, she's had a miscarriage that burdens her every day. I didn't know either of those facts this morning. The novel is coming into view and I'm even getting some ideas on the second in the series. Yes, I plan ahead.
The reason this post is titled Part I is because this weekend will be my first meeting with the local chapter of RWA: the Cactus Rose. I'm a little nervous. I have no idea how old the local members are, whether they'll be interested in anything I have to offer or whether I'll like the group at all. Part II will come on Sunday and I'll let you know.

Good News!

My membership to Romance Writer's of America has been processed and I'm officially a part of the organization. Very exciting news for me. Another step taken in my writing career. Furthermore, I was accepted to Nevada State College's bachelors program, but am a little apprehensive about the fact that NONE of the classes I need to take are offered this upcoming FALL 2010 semester. I applied to another program, one at UNLV, and can only hope something will come of it.

A Little At A Time

I've slowly been working on revisions for All or Nothing. Up to Chapter 2 now. It's slow work, a lot of errors to fix in this MS. I did, however, finish the synopsis for All Because of You this week. Once my critic is finished reading it, I'll be submitting my work. Still waiting on my membership for RWA and to hear back from Nevada State College. I have a feeling I'll be waiting a couple more weeks.

Update and Long Overdue Book Review

I forgot I needed to write a review of Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript for all you writer's out there. First off, it's a great source for every type of writer and style. The guide covers novels, short stories, magazine articles, the works and gave me the information I needed. This book isn't going to tell you how to write a book, but gives you great advice if you're looking to sell your work. The main reason I purchased it was to get a final summary of how to format my manuscripts, query letters and synopsis. There is so much information out there on the web that I was getting confused and this book helped me clear a lot of it up. So if you're wanting to sell your writing, definitely make this book a part of your research. Not only is there great advice, there's quotes from literary agents, telling you what they're looking for.
Now, onto the update. The first draft of All or Nothing is done! Yay! At about 359 pages, I made my goal of getting it finished before out big move this weekend and am very satisfied with the way it turned out. There is a lot of work still needing to be done with it, more additions, things like that, but now that I know exactly what I want and the way I want it, it'll be a piece of cake.
Another tidbit of information: I sent in my application to Romance Writer's of America and hope to hear back from them within the next couple of weeks.

Coming Along

14 pages today on All or Nothing. I thoroughly enjoy writing this MS for some reason and am excited to get the first draft done within the next week or so. Some big changes are taking place this week. Husband and I are moving to Las Vegas this weekend and I'm sending in my application to Romance Writer's of America tomorrow. I'll be getting my first desk in our new place so I won't be writing at the kitchen table anymore. Yay! And within the next month, I'll hear back from one of the bachelors programs I applied to. Things that I've been planning for months are now suddenly upon us and I can't put into words how excited I am.

Updates

I haven't posted in a while and thought I would share some updates as well as post this great quote of Ms. Evanovich's from her "Questions About Writing" on her site.

Q. What if I send my book to a lot of agents and none of them wants to represent me?


JANET: If being a writer is important to you, keep at it, keep improving, and don't give up. I wrote three books that were never published. I sent the first one out to everybody. I went through every agent and publisher in New York, twice. The only positive letter that I got back was from an agent, but it was written in purple crayon on a bar napkin, so I didn't follow up on it. Then, presto, ten years later I was a published author.

First, I haven't entered into the RWA Golden Heart contest. I didn't realize in order to enter you had to be a member of RWA. I am more than willing to become a member of this prestiges group, but lack the money to do so. Some day it will happen.

Second, I haven't been writing AT ALL. It's bad, I know. Good news? I'm still planning out my second novel in my head. I've even fixed a few chapters up there, but haven't written them yet. As for my first novel, I don't know what to do with it. For the people who've read it, the end is a bummer. It doesn't really end as a happy story, and they think I need to rewrite. Some days I agree, but am not sure how it will work out with the sequel.

Third, I am rethinking my titles. Any thoughts (if you've read the book)? If you haven't any titles that you think would be suited for a romantic/suspensful novel? And if you want to read it, just ask.

And last, I have decided to go back to school, but in a different program. I feel good about a my writing and would like to get the credentials to help me out. Currently, I'm trying to get program information about UVU's English department and we'll see where it takes me. Wish me luck :)

RWA Golden Heart Contest

Romance Writer's of America has their Golden Heart writing contest every year. This is possibly the largest contest in romance writing in America and I plan to enter. Entry starts September 21st this year. Luckily, I have everything ready for it. The manuscript is formatted from the last contest and the synopsis is done. All I need is my entry form and fee. I'll keep you updated.