Research

Paranormal Romance is coming across a lot harder to write than I thought it would. I know exactly what I want for the plot, but am having to do a lot of research for it. Not only am I researching Ancient Egypt for my main character, but I'm having to make my own paranormal world with my own paranormal rules. Well, duh. That's a given. You can't borrow someone else's idea because that's just wrong and making one up on your own takes time. I'm enjoying the time I put in to research on this project and it will get easier over time as the series progresses, but initially, this is hell not being able to just sit down and write with the research behind me.

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.

Something Amazing

My favorite author of all time, Carolyn Jewel, is one of the nicest and most humble people you will ever speak to. On the two occasions I have sent her messages, once through Facebook and once through email, she has responded back personally. I LOVE the fact that I have the opportunity to speak to a real life author and a great one at that. Well, these past couple of days her publishing company that released The Spare is re-releasing the book and redesigned the covers. Ms. Jewel received a few hundred or so and posted on her blog that she was more than happy to sign a few to give away to fans. So here's mine :)

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.

Bloodfever by Karen Moning

MacKayla Lane's ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland's shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets.

In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh-a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V'lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman, and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them....

Darkfever by Karen Moning

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.

Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

Spell of the Highlander by Karen Moning

Jessi St. James has got to get a life. Too many hours studying ancient artifacts has given the hardworking archaeology student a bad case of sex on the brain. So she figures she must be dreaming when she spies a gorgeous half-naked man staring out at her from inside the silvery glass of an ancient mirror. But when a split-second decision saves her from a terrifying attempt on her life, Jessi suddenly finds herself confronting six and a half feet of smoldering, insatiable alpha male.

Heir to the arcane magic of his Druid ancestors, eleven centuries ago Cian MacKeltar was trapped inside the Dark Glass, one of four coveted Unseelie Hallows, objects of unspeakable power. When the Dark Glass is stolen, an ancient enemy will stop at nothing to reclaim it, destroying everything in his path–including the one woman who may just hold the key to breaking the ninth-century Highlander’s dark spell. For Jessi, the muscle-bound sex god in the mirror is not only tantalizingly real, he’s offering his protection–from exactly what, Jessi doesn’t know. And all he wants in exchange is the exquisite pleasure of sharing her bed.

Yet even as Cian’s insatiable hunger begins to work its dark magic on Jessi, his ancient enemy is about to obtain the final and most dangerous of the Unseelie Hallows–and the ninth-century Highlander must stop him from getting it. Nothing less than the very fabric of the universe and two passionately entwined lives are at stake–as Cian and Jessi fight to claim the kind of love that comes along but once in an ice age. . . .

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.

The Immortal Highlander by Karen Moning

BEWARE: lethally seductive alpha male of immense strength and dark eroticism, do not look at him. Do not touch him. Do not be tempted. Do not be seduced.

With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensely sensual, he is the consummate seducer, free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. With his very life at stake, Adam’s only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.

Enter law student Gabrielle O’Callaghan, who is cursed with the ability to see both worlds: Mortal and Faery. From the moment she lays eyes on this stunning male, Gabby is certain of one thing: He could be her undoing. Thus begins a long, dangerous seduction. Because despite his powerful strength and unquenchable hungers, Adam refuses to take a woman by force. Instead, he will tease his way into Gabby’s bed and make her want him just as he wants her.

Now, no matter how hard Gabby tries to avoid him, Adam is everywhere, invisible to all but her—perched atop her office cubicle in too-tight jeans, whispering softly from behind the stacks of the law library, stealing her breath away with his knowing smile…all the while tempting her with the promise of unimaginable pleasure in his arms. But soon danger will intrude on this sensual dance. For as Adam’s quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic and the deadly politics of the Faery queen’s court, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both mortal and Faery realms…and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love.