Contest Wisdom by Ann Marsh

by Marie-Claude Bourque 

WE HAVE A WINNER! BOONE BRUX CONGRATULATION!

I am thrilled to welcome Dorchester author Ann Marsh today. Since I’ve joined the Dorchester team, I keep meeting authors that have got their starts through a contest. Of course, there are all the American Title winners and finalists and the Shomi contest winner Gayle Ann Williams. And we do all cross our fingers here for Candi who is a finalist in the Dorchester Best-Celler contest.

Some authors actually were discovered by Dorchester through plain old RWA contests (which still elude me to this day), for example Angie Fox who will visit us in January and Ann Mash a debut author with paranormal romance THE HUNT who I just had the delight to meet.

I cannot wait to read about her happy ending story and learn about her wisdom on the contest route to publication.

AND PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO COMMENT FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF ANN MARSHS DEBUT PARANORMAL ROMANCE: THE HUNT

       I sold my first two books because of RWA chapter contests.  I’d just been laid off from a dream job at Pixar and was bawling my eyes out at home when I read about the San Francisco RWA’s Heart-to-Heart contest. All you had to do was send them twenty-five bucks and the first twenty pages. Easy-peasy. I could do that. Hell, I had half a manuscript under my bed, didn’t I? Just to improve my odds, however, I whipped off another entry in two days—since Pixar had graciously gifted me with all that extra time—and sent it in. Six months later, I won. With the last minute entry. And got a request for a full from Hilary Sares of Kensington.

            Surreal.

            Not supposed to happen.

            Therefore, I had NO clue what to do next.

            So I spent a desperate month writing the unwritten 70,000 words and then sent the manuscript off, fired up a little Excel macro to tell me how many days I’d been waiting to hear from Hilary Sares who was, of course, going to offer me a six-book contract and an advance large enough to live on in the Bay Area while I wrote all the rest of my NYT bestselling books. See? Easy-peasy. I could so do this.

            While I waited to hear back from Ms. Sares and the Excel macro reached double and then triple digits, I entered some more contests. Because, you know, the first one was such a fabulous investment of my dollars that I just had to do it again.

            And again.

            And again.

            The first rule of contests? Contests are addictive. Oh, and, if you’re very lucky and if your CPA agrees, you might be able to deduct the cost of your entry.

            I spent just over a year gleefully doing the contest circuit until Dorchester’s Editorial Director, Alicia Condon, judged THE HUNT (placing me second, I might add) and bought the book. Some writers focus on one manuscript, polish it up, and then enter it absolutely everywhere. Next year, those writers enter a different baby in the literary stakes, unless they’ve landed a contract and rendered themselves ineligible. The rest of us? We take the shotgun approach. We lob a manuscript at this contest and a manuscript at that one. I had four different manuscripts on the contest circuit that year and no—none of them were even remotely close to done when I started entering. Some made it to the finals. Some didn’t.

            In addition to the obvious plus of conning Dorchester into actually publishing my book, three reasons had me entering contests.

1. Feedback. Although it turns out I was too scared most of the time to look at it. I just flipped through some contest results today and discovered that Susan Squires had read my entry. And commented on it. In longhand. Too bad I was too chicken to read the feedback because I’d got fixated on the scores. The numbers don’t really matter. The comments do. Susan Squires LIKED my entry—and she had a great many valuable suggestions… that I’m going to take. Two years later, I’m going to have to Google-stalk her and send her a thank you email.
2. Validation. Writing is lonely. Hearing someone who is not blood-related to you say “I like the way you write” means something.  Ask any contest winner: there’s the contest high, the euphoria of the final. Writing means rejection and lots of them. I’ve heard other writers say it and I’ll say it, too: every rejection may be one step closer to the one “yes” you need to get your book in the bookstore… but all those “no, thank yous” still hurt. Contest finals let you know you’re doing something right. That you just might be getting closer.
3. The golden ticket. A contest final is like finding Willy Wonka’s ultimate Golden Ticket. You get to skip the slush pile. Go straight to the top of the editor’s TBR pile (OK, not really… but at least you’re not on the bottom of the pile). The day I wrote “Requested Materials” on the front of the box I was sending off to Kensington is indelibly stamped in my memory. Those letters looked like a 9.0 magnitude earthquake had just struck California. I made the kids kiss the box for good luck as well and sent the slightly sticky box on its way. Dorchester took submissions electronically, but I had the thrill of knowing I was at the top of the inbox.
4. A thick skin. I didn’t know I was learning this from contests, but I was. So not only does it count—but this was the most important lesson of all. Take what you hear about your work with a grain of salt and look for advice you can apply… and grow a very, very thick skin. Learning to accept criticism—if not graciously, then quietly and not in a blogosphere-wide rant—was the most important thing contests gave me. Not the golden ticket pass to the editor’s desk or the really lovely framed certificate or even the slightly glazed look in my CPA’s eyes as I dumped all my receipts into his lap and demanded a tax write-off. What I learned was that some readers loved my stories—and some of them didn’t. Ouch.  It turned out to be good practice for my first set of revisions from my editor. And even better practice for my first set of reviews.

My very first contest entry ever? The one that won straight out of the gate and garnered a full? It also placed in the very bottom 50% of the Central Florida Romance Writers’ 2008 Touch of Magic Contest. Two judges loved it. The third deemed it outright unpublishable and said so. Quite frankly. My scores were 98, 96—and a 47. Welcome to contests. As one judge noted in her comments: “I loved the story. Some people won’t. It’s a matter of taste.” She was right. It is. I’ve read published books that have absolutely scaled the NYT Bestseller list—and loathed them. Just not to my taste. Contests are the same way and you need to grow that tough skin. Oh, and I sold that book. Not to Hilary Sares, but to Alicia Condon at Dorchester. And I sold it because I took the advice I got from the contest judge who hated the book so much she had to give it a 47 to make her point—and from Ms. Sares—and I rewrote that book until it was darker, sexier and sharper. BOND WITH ME comes out in September 2010 from Dorchester Publishing and I really need to go send that judge a thank you note.

Dr. Seuss has a fabulous set of lines in OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!.  “Wherever you go,” he exclaims, “you will top all the rest. Except when you don’t. Because, sometimes, you won’t. I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you”  For better or worse, he’s right. Contests involve a great deal of lucky—being lucky enough to draw a judge who likes what you write, for example. But, even if you’re staring at a 47 inked on top of your beloved manuscript and wondering how the heck that happened, there are still benefits you can take away. You’ve got the feedback. Plus, you simply can’t win if you don’t put yourself out there—so award yourself full points for courage. And, perhaps most importantly, you’ve still got a chance to network. Write thank you notes, to both your contest coordinator and to your judges. And remember… that the next contest will have a new set of judges. THE HUNT may have placed second in the 2008 Orange Rose—but that was only after it placed 17^th out of 27 entries in the 2008 Spring into Romance contest and ignominiously failed to final.

As Dr. Seuss insists, “when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.” Dive in. Give contests a shot. Because, honestly, who knows what might be in it for you?

What an inspiring story Ann and great advice. I wish I had known all that when I started to do contest. Thank you so much for visiting and sharing with us.

Don’t forget to comment for your chance to win and you can get your own copy of THE HUNT by visiting Ann’s website or directly through Amazon.

Before The First Written Word — Read, Read, Read!

More than half the adult population in America say they believe they have at least one good book in them. No doubt, many of them have been tempted by the dream of writing a great romance, historical, mystery, or perhaps a thriller. So … let’s say someone approached you. They ask — What does it take to become a writer?

 “I’d always loved to read – and come from a family of readers

 – but I never thought about writing as a career.” —Nora Roberts

How would you respond?

Personally, I’m likely to answer that question with one or two of my own (don’t you hate people like me). The first – What do you read? And, probably, the most important one– How much do you read? The reason for these questions should be obvious. Inspiration.

“Read, read, read. Read everything – trash, classics, good and bad,

and see how they do it.

Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master.

Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write.”  –William Faulkner

 Without real inspiration, the probability of a new writer realizing the dream isn’t very good. If you look into your own life, on any scale, chances are you’ve experienced this very thing. From your first pair of skates to the challenge of a double black diamond ski trail, you’ve probably found your inspiration by watching someone excel at their craft. Then, with high expectations, you immersed yourself into the nuts-n-bolts of it, until you also experienced the same exhilaration and pride in finding your own style and level of excellence.

“I have never thought of myself as a good writer.

Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts.

But I’m one of the world’s great rewriters.” –James A. Michener

My writing partners, Jenn, Candi, Marie-Claude and I, have all experienced that kind of exhilaration and pride as we strive to refine our skills, our voices, and our writing styles. It takes maturity and perseverance. We’ve certainly taken our spills and suffered the kind of bruising that only makes the taste of small victories sweeter by contrast. But we all have something in common that pushes us forward. The admiration of those who excel at this craft. Our inspiration. The written word. We READ, READ, READ…

 

So — Before The First Written Word — you’re assignment is to read. Not a bad gig, huh? There are no notes. No exams. Just read for the pleasure of it, while making a conscious effort to decipher, for yourself, the author’s rhyme and reason. 

“It’s hard for me to believe that people who read very little – or not at all in some

cases – should presume to write and expect people to like what

they have written. Can I be blunt on this subject?

If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time – or the tools – to write.

Simple as that.”

–Stephen King

Ask yourself a few questions along the way. Try to describe, in your own thoughts, the how and the why of your answers.

• How many words, paragraphs, or pages did it take for the story to grab you and pull you in?
• How clear were the visuals in the world the author has created?
• What made you want to keep turning pages after that last chapter?
• What was it about the next that pulled you in?
• Can you summarize conflict, what’s at stake, the goal of the characters? 
• What made the characters and dialogue real for you?
• Can you sense their emotion – how?
• Can you anticipate pinnacle points in the story? Were you surprised by a turning point? Can you find the clues that lead to these outcomes?
• What makes the story logical (or contrived)? Does the conclusion feel complete or unsatisfying – why?

And each time you set the book aside for a breather, imagine how you might plot your own direction for the story, then compare it to the author’s. Exercise a few skills you may have learned from the author. Look around the office while working, or the mall while shopping, or the park while jogging. All these worlds are yours to study character goal, motivation, conflict, and setting. What key elements would establish a readers visual and sensory feel for the setting? Then describe what would make your scene darker or more cheery.

“I want story, wit, music, wryness, color, and a sense of reality in what I read,

and I try to get it in what I write.” –John D. MacDonald

People around you tend to telegraph thoughts and emotion to the surface. What do you see in the precise shape of their mouth, the eyes, the posture? The selection and tone of their words? What makes the inflection and cadence of their dialogue unique from another woman or man. What message do they convey by the way they dress? Can you precisely define confidence, shyness, weakness and strength by their telling characteristics. What traits make someone appear a leader, a follower, or a drifter? Start now. Exercising skills that will soon have names, while, at the same time, planting the seeds of imagination for stories to come – your muse.

Lastly, but a most important discipline in writing – practice time management. No excuses, you must be disciplined enough to dedicate time to the craft. Both reading and writing are perishable skills. It’s the same with the muscles of your body, which will certainly atrophy with lack of use. The longer you stay away from the craft, the less fit you’ll become. The more you exercise, however, the stronger and more balanced you’ll be. Start with your reading. Commit yourself to manageable hours each day. There’s nothing sexier that a man or woman reading a novel. Well, almost…

“No man should ever publish a book until

 he has first read it to a woman.” ~Van Wyck Brooks

 

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

–John

Interview with our own Best-Celler finalist: Candi Wall!

By Marie-Claude Bourque

Hi everyone,

I am very excited to interview my wonderful writing partner and fellow Musetracker Candi Wall.

It is still amazing to me that Candi is now a finalist in the TextNovel/Dorchester Best-Celler contest with not only story but two: STAY: a Contemporary Romance of roughly 80,000 words and PRIMITIVE NIGHTS, contemporary romance of  82,000 words.

Candi will tell us more about them today and about how she stays sane while competing in the TextNovel next Best-Celler contest.

COMMENT AND WIN! And please leave us a comment for a chance to win a copy of my first Dorchester release, sexy gothic paranormal and ATV winner ANCIENT WHISPERS or a $20 gift certificate from Amazon!

M-C: What is the first thing you did when you found out that you were a TextNovel Dorchester finalist?

Candi: As any professional, I nodded my head, saved the document I was working on, and immediately set out to make a plan of action for the deadlines I had to make…

Ummm, yeah right. Unfortunately for my hubby, his number was the first one I hit. I was lucky that he listened to my incoherent screeching long enough to figure out what the fuss was. If he hadn’t, I’m certain the police would have been at the door!

M-C:  You are so poised all the time and professional, that you had me for a while there, but yes, it is pretty big news and you had all the rights to be screeching!

 I know you have been super busy working with Dorchester editors for the cover copies and also to work on the revision since your manuscripts are both due soon. What are your days like trying to get it all done?

Candi: CRAZY! It’s been fun though. I joke all the time that one should be careful what they wish for, because when you get it, you certainly have to be ready to step up to the plate!

I don’t get to have a set schedule. Since I do Animal Control for three towns, the pager is always at my side, and I promise the demented gadget is possessed with a sadistic funny bone and likes to go off at all times of the night or day. Usually when I’ve managed to get myself into writing mode and am flying through edits.

Then of course, I have three children (Four actually, but one’s away at Basic Training so it’s just a matter of finding time to write to him) who take up a HUGE portion of my time. We volunteer with scouts for both boys, run to and from games, practices, and school functions. My daughter is a bit easier right now, just a matter of getting her to and from various social functions.

But in between, even if it’s only an hour – I write like crazy. I’m actually very lucky that I can write very fast. It’s not pretty out of the gate, but in edits I tend to have more blocks of time to piece it all together.

M-C: Ever since I’ve known you I have been amazed at both the amount and quality of what you produce with all the responsibility you have. I wish I had oh say a quarter of that ability to just sit down and write!

Do you have any advice for writers who suddenly become involved in a “popular vote-style contest.” What would you have like to know before you started?

Candi: GO FOR IT! That’s my advice. It’s amazing what you can learn both about your writing and yourself. Contests are a wonderful way to meet people. They can really help you break out of your shell, take chances, do things you’d never thought you’d do or could do. Every single time you set yourself a goal, whether you complete it or not, you move yourself that much further in the game of learning what it takes to be a writer, and perfecting those skills.

If there was one thing I could have known about this style of contest before I started, it would have been how much time you have to dedicate to your contest entry. Be ready to jump in with both feet. Be ready to get out there, meet people and convince them why they need to come and read/vote for you.

Asking someone to vote is one thing, convincing them there is a great read in it for them is another. Love your work, and let others know why they should as well.

M-C: I think you hit it there. Love your work! I know for me, it is what carried me through asking for votes. I kept remembering how passionate I was (still am) about my story and it was easy for me to ask people for help.

Can you tell us what STAY and PRIMITVE NIGHTS are about?

Candi:

STAY:

Bracken Elliot and Abby Burke are polar opposites in every way possible. At least on the surface. Under the layers of their protective walls, they’ll both find that giving in to love can be the biggest risk they ever take.

PRIMITIVE NIGHTS:

Damon Hanson’s way of life is near extinction. Myla Jordan has every intention of stopping that from happening. But the deepest threat lay in their hearts, and in the world destined to keep them apart.

M-C: I am more familiar with PRIMITIVE but I have to say it would be really hard to pick one. Damon is such a sexy hero and Abby and Bracken have such a strong emotional connection, I really do want to see both stories in print!

Where did you get the ideas for these stories?

Candi: For STAY, Brack and his son have been characters on paper, in my idea’s folder for a while now. Their story just didn’t open up to me until the Next Best Celler Contest came along. Then it just unfolded almost by itself.

PRIMITIVE NIGHTS was completely different. I was reading the news one day and the article covered the plight of an un-contacted Peruvian tribe. I followed the story, but as I read this image formed in my mind. I contacted the officials at the website set up for information on these endangered tribes and asked some questions. The rest just followed. I kept my novel as true to the reports and history of the people as I could, while taking it out of reality and making it a HEA.

M-C: Oh yes, now I remember when you had just told us about the news story you read and how inspired you were. Wow this takes me back before all those crazy contest we have all been involved with and when we only talked about the craft and how to best word something!

What series of words would best characterize your writing style or tone?

Candi: Intense, sexy, realistic, modern, hopeful, deep, emotional, and touching.

M-C: Realistic. Yes, I think you nailed it very well there. How does “realistic” translate in your story?

Candi: I love real life. Don’t get me wrong, the idea behind any book I chose to read is to be transported to somewhere besides my own reality. But the stories I write are still supposed to do that. I just use modern situations, real life heros, kick-ass heroines who are kick-ass because they are strong and bear the weight of all that will come with grace. And the men, they have faults that balance their perfections, and each one is a hero in his own right. Not a man who saves the world, just a man who makes a difference and loves deeply.

I write stories that tell about real life situations with a HEA, because I believe there still is HEA all over.

M-C: As I said on Leah’s blog before, I always found your stories full of depth and yes the hope in them is also why I love them so much. I find that very timely in the current situation we all live. We all need hope and like to see hard-working people get their own happy ending.

Do you have any idea why you write more realistic stories?

Candi: Without a doubt, my style comes from the way I feel when I see someone doing something that can so easily be done but so many chose not to do.

I love an ever day hero. The men who sit on the bleachers at their kids games in their dirty work clothes because they came straight from work to see the last half. I love watching a soldier nod and grab the door for another person. I get goosebumps when a fire pager goes off and the person wearing it leaves their groceries in the cart and runs from the store. And I applaud those who decide to take the time to help out someone else – even if it’s miles away or in dangerous situations – because they feel that it’s the right thing to do.

Everyday heros and heroines have stories that inspire and I love giving them a HEA!

M-C: So true and so glad you are tackling these sometimes difficult stories. Is your setting important in your story and why?

Candi: Yes and no.

For STAY, the setting isn’t too important or relevant to the story other than it’s the one place my heroine wants to stay. It’s easy to imagine and sticks in your mind even as the characters take over.

With PRIMITIVE NIGHTS, it’s important to slowly show the beauty of my Hero’s land, so the reader connects with his reasons for wanting to preserve his way of life. I use much more setting in this story, and even built a beautiful legend around one of the flowers.

M-C: Is this story more character-driven or plot-driven or both? How so?

Candi: STAY and PRIMITIVE NIGHTS are both character driven.

STAY touches the soul. I actually cried while rewriting one scene.

PRIMITIVE NIGHTS has extreme depth as well, but the plot is intense and really makes life difficult for my characters.

M-C: Oh I so want to get those printed in my hot little hands! What do you think readers will get out of your stories?

Candi: With both stories, I want my readers to feel inspired by the characters. I want them to fall in love with these every day people who fall deeply in love and must weather any number of difficulties to get to, or give in to, those emotions. We tend to be a fairly closed off society. I want my readers to sigh when they close my novels at the end and feel good.

M-C: Those are really my kind of stories. Well that is obvious since you are my writing partner. A little insider in the Musetracks group, I am convinced that the deep emotions in all our stories, Jenn’s, John’s, yours and mine, are what drew us together in the very first place when we were all just starting to write.

Can you share with us your regular writing schedule and how long you have been writing?

Candi: Is there such a thing as a regular writing schedule? I tend to write anywhere and anytime I get a second to do so between my hectic shcedule.

I’ve been writing since I can remember. It’s always been the one thing I’ve done for myself, even if the stories were just for me. Then about a year and a half ago, I decided I’d placed my dream of becoming a writer on the back burner for long enough. I joined groups, did a ton of research and began learning what it takes to be a professional writer. Along the way, I met three wonderful writing partners who have helped me on the difficult road to publication.

It’s a tough, bumpy road, but I love it all. I wouldn’t change a moment of my experiences thus far!

M-C: Do you have any more projects in the work?

Candi: ALWAYS! Right now, my focus is on finishing edits for STAY and PRIMITIVE NIGHTS for Dorchester’s Next Best Celler contest. But my idea folder is full to overflowing and as soon as I have time, I’ll be on to the next novel.

M-C:  If readers want to know more about you and your writing, where on the web can they find you?

Candi:

www.CandiWall.com

www.musetracks.wordpress.com

www.textnovel.com

Facebook

Myspace

Twitter

M-C: Do you have any parting words of wisdom for struggling aspiring authors?

Candi: Keep writing. I know you’ve heard this a million times before, but that’s because it’s the truth. Keep pushing yourself to write better, write faster and you’ll see the improvements. Rejection comes to everyone. Utilize what you can from it and get back to the computer or notebook.

Push yourself, experiment, try something completely outside your comfort zone. The only way we can get better is to continually try and fail. Someday, you’ll look back at how far you’ve come and thank yourself for not giving up.

And now, you tell me…

What have you done lately to push yourself to that next level? Entered any contests? Joined any groups? NaNo’d?

M-C: I’m not sure I want to answer that one (being an ATV is one heck of a ride so I know how you feels right now!) LOL I am so excited that you are going through this as well and thank you for answering all my questions!

But everyone, please, share your latest push to the next level and you be one of the first to receive a copy of ANCIENT WHISPERS (winner of American Title V/ last year’s Dorchester contest) or a $20 Amazon gift card for a few latest releases of your choice!!!

And don’t forget to mosy over to the Dorchester site to tell the editors what you like about Candi’s cover copies (blurb!)

You can vote/comment for

STAY and PRIMTIVE NIGHTS by clicking the on either of the names. The links will take you to the Dorchester forums!

Let’s get those stories published, Folks!

UPDATE – AMERICA’S NEXT BEST CELLER CONTEST

As of Monday Nov. 16th, the field of contestants in America’s Next Best Celler contest have been narrowed down to ten.

Finalists are, in no particular order:

Enchanted Season by Alicia Pace

Stay by Candi Wall

How to Lose a Demon in 10 Days by Saranna DeWylde

Confessions of the World’s Oldest Shotgun Bride by Gail Hart

The Hooded Man by Courtney Sheets

Primitive Nights by Candi Wall

Courting Demons by Kerri Nelson

Tossing the Gloves by Christy Finn

Vampire Vacation by C. J. Ellisson 

Muse Struck by Liane Gentry Skye

 

I’m ecstatic that both STAY and PRIMITIVE NIGHTS made the cut!

OMG – I’m a double finalist!!!

(YEP, serious shocked gasping came with the announcement, then I called hubby who thought something was majorly wrong since he couldn’t make sense of my screeching.)

 

But on a more serious note, this is by far the most intense contest I’ve been in since taking my writing career seriously.

Maybe if I had nails like this I’d have some left!

The pressure and waiting is incredible, as one of my writing partners said,

“It’s that excited, scared feeling that gets the adrenaline pumping and the mind doing all kinds of crazy thoughts.”

 

But I’ve learned so much from this contest, both about myself as a person, and as a writer.

I’ve learned that as much as I always thought I was an introvert – I’m not.

As much as I love to write, I love the whole process that goes with it!

I work well under pressure. Who knew?

 

But the best thing to come from this contest thus far are the incredible connections I’ve made with other talented, amazing writers. It was very difficult to see some of these stories not go on to the next round. Incredible stories that I’ve followed as the contest progressed, that truly humble me. More than that, the ladies and gents behind these works are amazing, supportive people who I count lucky to have as friends and colleagues.

You can read any of their works here: TEXTNOVEL

I have no doubt that numerous novels I’ve had the pleasure to read at Texnovel, will someday sit on my bookshelf. I hope too, that anyone of you decide to join. It’s a great way to network, and a fantastic place to find support, encouragement and even just the added push you need to keep writing.

 

Now I get to enter the next phase of this contest.

Jacket Copy edits.

We’ll spend the next few days revamping, cleaning, and pretty much tearing apart the 10 or so lines that are supposed to hook the reader right off the shelf.

The 10 finalists will then post their revised Jacket Copies at Textnovel and Dorchester Publishing for YOU, the public and fellow writers to vote on for your favorite. Fan Favorite voting will run from Nov.23rd – Nov.30th and the FAN FAV will be announced on Dec. 4th!

• On December 11th the contestants will be whittled down to YIKES Five!
• On December 18th The fifth place winner will be announced
• On January 4th The fourth place winner will be announced
• On January 8th The third place winner will be announced

And on January 15th both the runner-up and the winner of America’s Next Best Celler Contest will be announced!

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for still being in the running come Jan. 15th, but every contestant I’m competing against has something to offer, a well written novel and a professional presence. Even before the 21 Semi-finalists were announced, the competition was amazingly good! Of the 21 Semi-finalists, I have no doubt we’ll be seeing many of them do great things in the near future.

And the other top ten, well let’s just say they are an amazing group of writers, and I’m beyond proud to be their fellow writer. 

 

Hope to see you all vote and comment on the jacket copies.

You can vote and comment at TEXTNOVEL now

or at DORCHESTER PUBLISHING starting on Nov. 23rd.

We’re all working hard!

Thanks for your support thus far.

Candi

C. L. Wilson on Worldbuilding for Every Author

We are thrilled today to host New York Times Bestselling fantasy author C.L. Wilson! I have just started to read her first in the Taren Soul series and I am sold. I love her writing. In matter of second, she managed to transport me in a magical world that I cannot forget. I am thrilled to know this series has four books out with the fifth coming soon.

And what better author to share her tips on worldbuilding!

Please, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a cool little journal from the Harlequin Notable collection!

Marie-Claude

Worldbuilding for Every Author

by C.L. Wilson

As a fantasy romance author, I’m frequently asked to speak on the topic of worldbuilding.  Many  authors who write historical or contemporary fiction, however, erroneously assume worldbuilding doesn’t apply to them.

 Au contraire.  

Worldbuilding—including the tools and techniques used to create believable worlds—is an essential requirement of every fictional story.  Every time I say this, I see some raised eyebrows and furrowed brows, but I assure you, it’s true.  Let me explain.

Beyond the necessity of writing a good story, one of the main jobs of an author (of any kind of story) is to create the suspension of disbelief in the reader’s mind.  Fiction writing is basically glorified lying.  The events in the book are not real.  The characters don’t exist, and their actions are entirely made up.  Readers know this, so it is incumbent upon the author to create a world in which the characters you wish to write about could actually exist, in which the story problems they face could reasonably occur, in which their actions and the ramifications of their actions make sense to the reader in such a way as to have the ring of truth.  The world should also be directly and inextricably tied to the plot, and (where possible) showcase the themes of your work to provide the reader the richest possible reading experience.

Simply put, worldbuilding is the craft of building a believable world in which the events of your story can unfold to the best effect.

Worldbuilding for every novel includes the following basics:

• Setting.   At its most minimal, setting (the physical locations where the events of the story take place) must be appropriate to the story you wish to tell and to the specific events in that story.  If you are writing a novel about cowboys and Indians, for instance, the big battle between the cowboys and the Indians should not take place in the ballrooms of Regency England, for instance.  At its best, setting should underscore, contrast, or conflict the themes of your novel, and provide an environment that can aid and/or challenge your characters in their story quest.

Tips: Understand the look, feel, mood of your setting.  Draw maps to keep yourself honest.  (map rooms in houses, city blocks, continents, whatever you need).  Ask yourself one very important question: “Is this the best place for my story to take place?”  If you cannot answer this question with a resounding “Yes!” consider changing your setting.

• Cultures.  The society we grow up in profoundly impacts every part of our lives: our values, our views, our expectations, our way of approaching obstacles and living life.   Irish policemen in Boston, for instance, have a completely different cultural and societal mores than ranchers in Texas or fashion designers in Manhattan. At a minimum, you need to understand your character’s history and what shaped his outlook on life.  At its best, the culture, society, belief systems in your novel will directly underscore, contrast or challenge the emotional and/or physical journey your characters undertake.

Tips:  Ask yourself cultural questions that impact your characters’ internal (emotional) and external (physical quest) story arcs.  How educated are the members of this culture? What does this culture value the most (money, honor, truth, freedom, power, etc.)?  What will they do to protect this value? What are the traditions and taboos in this culture?   Ask yourself: “What is it about this character that makes him/her the best—or, better yet, the only—person who could tell this story?”

• Language.   In many novels, language in worldbuilding is less about what actual language a character speaks than what accent / colloquialisms / manners of speech do your characters employ. The way your characters speak says volumes about them.  Your character’s use of language should be commensurate with his/her education and background. (i.e., an uneducated tenant farmer in South Georgia in the 1890’s is unlikely to speak with a British accent or use words like “indubitably”).

Tips:  Do your characters have accents? Do they employ certain “catch phrases,” slang, or gestures?  If you’re writing a story in deep Point of View (POV), everything in your novel will be described through your characters’ eyes.  The way they look at the world and the terms they use to describe must be true to the person they are.

• Government, Technology. Government and technology impact the rules characters operate under and the feats they are capable of.  Even outside traditional government, societal pecking orders are a form of governance. 

Tips: What type of government exists in your story world? How does it impact your characters lives? Do they operate inside or out of the law. What level of technology is available to your characters? What problems/solutions does technology provide in your story?

The above is not meant to be an all inclusive list.  It’s just the tip of the worldbuilding iceberg.  The best worldbuilding tools any author has are questions: who, what, when, where, how…and mostly importantly…why.

As you ask yourself questions and build the world in which your characters live, keep the following in mind…how can I use this aspect of my world to enhance, illuminate or challenge the plots and themes of this book? If you keep that goal in mind and worldbuild accordingly, in the end you will end up with a vibrant story built on a world so solid it feels completely real to your characters and your readers.

So happy worldbuilding!  May the words flow, the pages accumulate, and the story be good.

Thank you so much for your great tips C.L. My steampunk story is calling to me, and now my mind is swirling with so many ideas and elements I’ll have to juggle and keep track of!

Please leave C. L. a comment or question for your chance to win a cool vintage looking journal from the  Harlequin Notable collection where you can jot down all your worldbuilding ideas!

Writer Inspiration: Anthea Lawson

by Marie-Claude Bourque

AND OUR WINNER IS…. Chassily Wakefield! Congrats Chassily 

Hi everyone,

I am delighted to have here at Musetrack today, historical romance author Anthea Lawson aka writer couple Anthea and Lawson. They are kind enough to giveaway a copy of their first novel PASSIONATE to one lucky commenter so please comment away and ask questions! 

FIVE ESSENTIAL STEPS ON THE PATH TO PUBLICATION

Getting a novel published can be a big challenge, but there are some things an aspiring author can do to increase their chances of seeing their work in print. Here are five essentials. If you’ve already done some of these, then you’re on your way!

1. FINISH YOUR BOOK

To sell your book, you must have a book to sell. It seems obvious, but it’s essential if you are serious about seeing your work in print. If you find yourself procrastinating, find some outside support: a critique partner who will hold you accountable, NaNoWriMo, or other external motivators. Many people dream of writing a book “someday.” Some actually start writing. A very few keep going all the way to the end. Put yourself among that select group of finishers.      

2. GET SOME FEEDBACK AND LEARN HOW TO SELF-EDIT

The next step is taking your completed manuscript and making it good. There are a lot of exceptional writing craft books out there. One of our favorites is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, by Browne and King. We went back to it over and over as we were working on our first novel, Passionate. Critique groups can be helpful for some, and writing contests provide valuable feedback. Accept that your manuscript will need work and polish if it is to find a home with a publisher. The internet is full of advice and instruction for writers. Keep learning and find what works for YOU.

3. FIND AN AGENT/EDITOR

 A hidden part of this essential step is learning how to write synopses and query letters. There are whole books on this subject and some important conventions everyone seeking to sell a novel should take the time to learn. One of the most challenging tasks during this process is distilling your entire novel down into just a couple snappy sentences that will capture the interest of an editor or agent–it’s called “high concept.” Here’s an example — An ordinary boy discovers he has magical powers, and a powerful enemy, and is sent to wizardry school to learn the skills that could save his life—and the world. Harry Potter in a nutshell. Work on figuring out the nutshell of your story.

Here are some excellent online resources for finding an agent. Preditors and Editors includes listings of legitimate agents, as well as who NOT to work with, Agent Research & Evaluation provide information about the top agents in the various fields, and Publishers Marketplace features profiles on almost every agent working. Each year updated guides to agents and editors are published — check the writing section of your bookstore to find them.

Use conferences and contests to get your work in front of agents and acquiring editors, too. And keep trying. It only takes one person to love your work for that SOLD call to happen!

4. NETWORK AND CONNECT

 Fiction writers are lucky to have some great writers organizations available. No matter your genre, you can find a network — Authorlink.com has a great comprehensive listing. One of the biggest (and best) organizations is Romance Writers of America (rwanational.org). RWA and its local chapters provide a wealth of support and insider information about the publishing industry. Consider joining RWA even if you don’t write romance. Best-selling author (and RWA member) Bob Meyer has said it’s an invaluable organization for any fiction writer to be a part of.

You can also connect with other writers by joining online writing classes, attending writer’s conferences, visiting blogs (like this one), writing your own blog — the key thing is to get involved with a community of other writers. From there, you may find a critique group or partner, share some of the tribulations along the way, and know that you’re not alone.

5. PERSEVERE

Accept that things move sloooooowly in publishing. Don’t give up, and celebrate every victory that comes your way. It is a great time to be writing. We live in a literate age, word processors ease the drudgery of producing a manuscript, the internet brings a wealth of writing resources right into your home, e-books are changing the landscape of publishing, and the world is as hungry as ever for great stories told with humanity and skill.

We hope yours will be one of them.

Anthea Lawson is the pseudonym for a husband-wife team who write spicy Victorian romance. Their debut novel, PASSIONATE, was nominated for a Best First Book RITA in 2009, and their newest book, ALL HE DESIRES, hit the shelves on November 3^rd.

Comment below to win a copy of their first book, PASSIONATE. Tell us -What’s the best (or worst!) writing advice you’ve ever received?

Thank you so much Anthea and Lawson! Congratulations on the brand new release!

Research Steampunk Style! Encounter with Tim Powers

by Marie-Claude Bourque

with my brand new steampunk googles!

Some of you know I was at Steamcon last week in Seattle. Now it was not all about me squeezing into a corset and searching for the perfect pair of googles (did that thought! Awesome googles!).

No I also attended two great pannels/meeting with Steampunk authors that got my brain in gear. The first was with Tim Powers (author of  the classic novel THE ANUBIS GATE) who basically took all kinds of questions from the audience. The second included Cherie Priest author of the latest steampunk novel BONESHAKER who discussed the post-apocaliptic nature of some Steampunk stories.

Cherie was quite frank. First, she said, if you are not having fun while writing your steampunk novel, then you’re not writing steampunk. And she was also very open about the liberty she took in rewriting history a little bit. This is fantasy. Her civil war is a little longer than reality and that’s ok.

In fact, “Steampunk needs historical accurracy like an airship needs a goldfish” was the motto at Steamcon (and I have the t-shirt to prove it!)

Tim Powers however had a great method for his research and inspiration and it was quite different.

Author Tim Powers at Steamcon 09

In fact, Powers told us that he loves to read biographies. He just keeps reading all kinds of biography from interesting people and with an eye on the quirky, looking for small details that may be unusual and… perhaps caused by some supernatural or “spooky” little glitch somewhere.

Then his imagination does the rest.

The next step is what caught my attention and fascinated me. Once he found the biography of interest, say Einstein, and some key events of interest in the life of his subject, he researches what is going at the time, day by day. Let say Einstein makes a particular discovery one day, then Powers will look at all that was happening in the world on that day, and perhaps that time period (or even at the hour timescale if applicable.

He may add some contemporary of Einstein and line up the dates. Then he makes connections. So and so had a accident on that day, another important person died on that day and so.

Then it’s only a matter of connection the dots and with a little imagination, all these events are not random, but caused by one thing.

I thought that was particularly clever. I am not so good at research (unlike our own research queen Jenn) and I am paralyzed at the though of writing historical romance. But I though Powers methid might be one more tool for the writer’s tool box.

Hope this sparks your imagination as well!

Notable links of last week!

• At Witchy Chicks, a good take on Nanowrimo with “Not now, write more”
• Scott Eagan on Teacups and Toasts!
• How not to act as an author/writer by Susan Adrian
• A really sweet candid must-read about the whole Angela James saga (from Samhain to Quarter and her great new job!) In her own words at Dear Author
• and of course support our own Candi, if you like her stories, please please go tell Leah Hultenschmidt at Romantic Reads to help Candi make the cut as a finalist in the Best-Celler Dorchester contest!

I’m Branding today…

Hello All,

I’m guest blogging at Texting Between The Sheets today.

What is Author Branding?

I’ve got my Brand in the works.

Come on over.

Writer Inspiration: Robin D. Owens

by Marie-Claude Bourque

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO JUDI PHILLIPS!!!

Hi everyone,

I am thrilled to welcome Robin D. Owens, award-winning author of futuristic fantasy romantic fiction, who will discuss the writer’s environment. For me, whose writing space consist of a laptop and nothing else (my son jumping on my bed as I type this), that is a topic that makes me dream!

Robin’s latest release HEART CHANGE is out in November and  she has kindly offered to give away any book of your choice  from her bookshelf (including HEART CHANGE) to one lucky commenter, so don’t forget to say hi!

Today I’m going to talk about a writer’s physical environment.  Naturally different people have different wants and needs.  For instance I have friends who like to write in the family room on their laptops when their family watches television.  That would drive me crazy.  My writing area was a corner of my bedroom for a long time, but I always needed (and continue to need) a desk.

Think about your space.  Where do you write best?  Do you need tidiness or a certain level of mess to be comfortable?  Is a big chair and a laptop fine with you, or do you need some sort of table/desk/surface?  Find your space and claim it.

LIGHT:

What sort of light do you have for your office space?  And what sort of light do you prefer to
work by?

I have a window (that looks out on my neighbor’s house about 10 feet away) and an overhead light fixture with 2 bulbs.  My office is about 10 x 12 and I write at night.  My overhead fixture is bad for writing so I have three small lights – one for my desk, one focused near my keyboard, and another for my credenza — that I use when writing.  This helps my eyes.

I have the overhead on when I do email, chats, etc. TURNING OFF THE OVERHEAD LIGHT AND TURNING ON THE SMALL LIGHTS “NOTIFIES” MY SUBCONSCIOUS THAT I AM READY TO WRITE.

So, first, check your light.

TIDINESS:

Do you like clutter around you or not?  How tidy does your desk, writing space, need to be?  I once was able to handle more clutter than I can now.  Give yourself “permission” to spend a reasonable amount of time cleaning up when messiness starts to bother you.

Make sure your “tools” are within easy reach.  For me these are dictionaries, baby namer, thesaurus, reference books, The Artist’s Way, and Walking on Alligators.  I also like my journal/appointment book, The Sacred Journal, near as well as the critiqued pages of the chapter I’m working on.  Supplies: pens, paper, computer floppies.

POSITION OF COMPUTER, DESK, CHAIR, KEYBOARD:

Be aware of your personal needs.  Do you need desk space to write/edit on as well as your computer?  Is your chair comfortable enough, ergonomic?  What about your keyboard and monitor?  It took a while, but now I have a computer arm that will let me swing my computer around to a couple of  locations.  I have a keyboard stand that will do the same.  Have NOTHING in your space that makes you physically uncomfortable: light that glares in your eyes, a chair that makes you stiff, a keyboard set where you have to strain to use it.

COMPUTER SCREEN:

How many of you work with a computer on your day job?  I did.  One thing that I found was NEGATIVE for me was that the computer screen at my day job included the same COLORS as that on my home.

I literally walked into my office one night and thought “I can’t face that cream-colored screen.” Yes, dabbling around with the colors (and sounds) of your writing computer can “waste” a time.  For me, this is making my environment suite me.  Again, I really believe that having the same color of computer screen for your day job and your writing is NEGATIVE.  You begin to visually associate your writing with your day job.  Also, BY BOOTING UP A DIFFERENT COLORED SCREEN YOU NOTIFY YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS THAT IT IS TIME TO WRITE.

I change the screen colors when I tire of them or I find myself thinking “I can’t face that xxx colored screen.”  I know some people who change the screen when they hope for inspiration – such as a darker colored screen for more emotional writing.  You can save various display colors/desktop themes and access them easily.  I have a shortcut to “Display” on my toolbar so it is a click away.

My entire computer is completely personalized for me.  I have a cursor which is a fountain pen.  my “waiting” cursors are a blue-green die (dice) that is rolling, and a scroll opening and closing or a book with a bubble rising from it.  I have sounds that encourage.  When I turn off my work computer, I have applause – for me because I did my work.

So look around you and see what your writing environment is, what easy things you can do to change it so it fits YOU!

May all your writing dreams come true.
Robin
http://www.robindowens.com (excerpts on the READS page)
Blog on Writing and Publishing:   http://robindowens.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for your great advice, Robin!

 And everyone, don’t forget to comment for your chance to win a copy of one of Robin’s novel!

NaNoWriMo Lite

Song of the day: I Dare You by Shinedown

This week marks the beginning of National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo.

Unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo? In short, NaNoWriMo is a crash and burn approach to writing. The goal is to pen out a 175 page or 50,000 word novel in 30 days. From midnight November 1^st to midnight November 30^th, writers and would-be authors the world over lose all touch of reality and frenetically become full-fledged novelists. 

Does the idea of writing 50,000 words in such little time scare the bejeepers out of you? Does failure seem imminent? This is no doubt a daunting task ripe with disaster. Or is it?

I first NaNo-ed last year. I took up the challenge knowing that there was no way I could complete it. Did I shoot myself in the foot before I even typed my first word by believing I would be unsuccessful?

Not at all.

I wasn’t ready as a writer for such a test. I knew that. Still wet behind the ears, I was learning how to manage and discipline my writing time and responsibilities, and honing the craft. I fell far short of the 50,000 words mark. I don’t recall my exact pitiful word count, but I do remember that I managed four chapters. I’m a notoriously slow writer. Four chapters in four weeks was a monumental feat for me. Although I didn’t meet the NaNo goal, I had a real sense of accomplishment.

That’s part of the experience. To feel accomplished.

NaNo boldly suggests purging on the page, emphasizing quantity or quality. After all, December is for editing, right? How I wish I could upchuck the stories I want to tell. By now I would have all six of my WIP finished. Sadly, I have not yet been able to discipline myself to write in such a way. I scrutinize over every action, every bit of dialogue, and every visual apparatus to paint for the reader. I stare at the computer screen, thumb through my thesaurus and consult my research books enough to whittle away precious hurling time.

If you are like me, aware that you may not finish a full length novel in a month, let me share my thoughts on how to be a successful NaNo participant.

First, set attainable goals, no matter how small.

The dynamics of my household changed with the recent addition of my youngest daughter – now 8 weeks old. No way will I be able to give a good deal time to writing, much less finishing, a novel. Even as I type this blog, she sits in my lap, fussy and kicking at the keyboard. <sigh> With that in mind, I am aiming low. My goal is to write 10,000 words. Even that may be too lofty. However, reaching that goal will be sweet.

If you reach your objective before the final buzzer, set another one. Just think of how awesome you will feel by not only completing your goal but surpassing it!

Here’s a tip that goes against the NaNo rules. Start before you start.

Huh?  Let me explain.

The beginning of a novel can be the toughest part. And it’s a terrible place to get hung up when participating in a marathon. It can derail your best intentions before you really get under way and taint the mindset for success.  NaNo is about writing with intensity and it doesn’t matter if you jot down sheer crap. But once again, I cannot function under those terms. By creating the opening scene before the starting gun you can give yourself the momentum you need out the starting gate. Just don’t add those words to your counter. You’d be cheating yourself from a gratifying triumph.

Got a project you are already working on? How about that forsaken WIP sitting in your bottom desk drawer collecting paper clips and dust? Maybe you have an idea for a story in a genre you don’t normally write. Want to murder someone with a meat cleaver? Have a hot, sexy forbidden romp? Stage a gunfight at high noon or hunt down flesh-eating zombies? Why not give it a whirl and use NaNo as a tool to jumpstart or finish that endeavor?

As an added bonus, this can be great practice should you want to participate in NaNoWriMo next year. You will be better prepared to tackle NaNo on its official terms.

Find local NaNo writing buddies.

Buddies hold one another accountable. It’s natural to want to excel toward your set goals when others are “watching”.  In turn, word counts increase faster when there is accountability as a motivator.

Stage a write-in. Get together with fellow Nano-ers for a night of blitz writing.

A good friend and fellow Nano-er graciously opened her home last year for such a write-in. Participants were asked to bring food, cheap “white elephant” gifts and their laptops. Prizes were given for the most words written and the most intriguing sentence. Fun drawings for unique and wacky gifts were during break times. There was a smorgasbord of great food and greater company. And best of all, the event was extremely productive. I penned out more words that night than in a whole NaNo week. The night was so successful for all that a few months later, another write-in had been scheduled. A session with a masseuse for the weary had been added to the mix. Ahhh…..a little more to the left. Rejuvenated muscles, rejuvenated minds.

Now here comes the disclaimer. These suggestions and comments are solely mine. NaNoWriMo does not endorse them in any way. At least that’s what I assume.

Visit the NaNo website.

 http://www.nanowrimo.org/

It’s not too late to sign up and join in the fun and excitement.