Making a molehill out of a mountain

Yes you read right - I didn't get mixed up. I have a problem (well actually, I have several, but that's another post altogether). I have a massive set of revisions that came through for my ms that's targeted at Modern Heat. When I say massive, I'm not exaggerating, and I really need to make a molehill out of a mountain. After coming down to earth and really reading the email it was clear that there are a number of issues that need addressing.


So where to begin? With lovely ed I'm working with suggested I map out my characters lives, from birth till now. I know that this is something others have done and recently, the wise Jackie Ashenden did the same for her current wip and has found it immensely helpful (thanks Jackie).

Why? A character map/bio gives you and really it’s the best way of getting to know your protagonists - their likes, dislikes, quirks, stuff about their childhood, past relationships, hopes and dreams all paint a complete picture of them.

But wait? We create these characters - shouldn't we know them already? Well... maybe. I know in the past I've certainly written some kind of background/description, but for this ms, I just dove into the writing without so much as a second thought as to WHO these people really where. Our characters are our foundations - if we can't get them write - the rest of the story will crumble, so really getting the bios right - is really really vital. Once you do and you really know your characters, the rest is as easy as pie...well, maybe not, but it’s certainly a good start on chipping away at that mountain.

The Art of Simplicity

I noticed something whilst editing my latest ms.  I'm no fan of simplicity, well not in the first draft that is.  I tend to overcomplicate things, write flowery descriptions of things that last paragraphs when really, a sentence or two will do.  This wasn't the first time I did this, in fact, I'm pretty sure I've done it with every ms I've written, so you would think by now I'd know better. 

Recently I read a the first two books of Nora Roberts' latest series - The Bride Quartet.  I'd been a while since I'd read one of her books, but pretty much from the first word I was reminded of the elements of her writing that I've always admired, the primary one being simplicity.

Now, I'm a bit biased because I think Nora Roberts is a genius, but seriously, when she writes something, she doesn't need to rely on pages upon pages of description to get the point accross.  When she switches POV, and she does this a fair bit, we the reader are not left with whiplash.  On the contrary, we clearly know who's POV we're Why?  Because she does it with simplicity.  Yes, NR has mastered the art of simplicity.  Perhaps after writing eons of books I might get it right too.

The Problem with Tom/What's in a name?

So I have an issue. I don't like my hero's name. Petty I know, but when I started writing my current MS, he was originally Nicholas Bradley, now he's Thomas Bradley and I'm thinking of changing it back, or perhaps, calling him something else. In the grand scheme of things does it matter what his name is? probably not, but I'm finding it hard to continue till I figure it out.

Am I alone on this? Has anyone else started an MS then changed the main character's names half way through? I generally change the look of the character or the image I use for inspiration, but not the actual name.

So here is Tom/Nick. Does he look more like a Tom or a Nick? And what's in a name anyway? Does it alter our perception of a a character if we can link their name to past experiences or people we know?

How to NTAI in Ten Days

For those brave enough to have committed to NaNo - you're already set in to NTAI, but for the rest of us who have a sub out there/entered the Presents comp here are some suggestions:

Day One - Get a pedi/mani or even better - both. Come on you KNOW you want to!
Day Two - Get a massage (could have done it on day one, but why rush things?)
Day Three - Have a loooooooong lunch with a friend or two. And have a glass of wine or two, or three...
Day Four - Give the VISA/MasterCard a work out and DON'T feel bad about it, after all, its all in the name of earning frequent flyer points right?
Day Five - ???

OK - I could only come up with four suggestions. So tell me, how are you NTAI?

I Have Writer's Block...

Ok - So it's probably the most over used phrase known to a writer, but hey, its the truth and if it weren't then I'd probably would've thought of something clever and witty to say... but i didn't, because I can't...

The situation is as follows: Logged on this morning to find an email from HM&B requesting my full manuscript for the partial I sent which included some, but not a hell of a lot of revisions.
Yeah - happy dance and all that. I AM stoked, but as I read the revisions carefully, I panic. I have to REWRITE stuff, think of new scenes AND still polish nine chapters, two of which are incomplete...

I sit down and open a file that has not seen the light of day for a good six weeks and then... nothing, nada, zip.

Maybe a spot of surfing, checking my email, visiting face book might get me in the mood? Uh no, still not a single word... After a while it dawned on me...I officially have writer's block.
Sigh. Perhaps tomorrow might be easier?

Inspiration in the strangest form

So I just got back from a trip to Hong Kong and LOVED it. But the whole time I was there I trying to find a way of weaving my experience into my existing ms. Because we were there for dh's work, I had some time to write, and one gloriously smoggy afternoon as I sat perched at my laptop with an expansive view of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour in my sights it hit me...

My existing MS is set in the Hunter Valley, deep NSW wine country. How on earth am I going to marry country Australia and the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong? The answer was born from an experience from the night before. After a night on the town, we headed to our hotel and seeing as though it was well before the witching hour, we made a beeline to the 'Sky Bar' and as the name suggests, it is situated way up there with a fantabulous view of Hong Kong at night. One of the may great things about the Sky Lounge Bar is their Wine Room. You are given something resembling a credit card and you can access their wine dispensing system (see pic). Basically, you can have a taste, half or full glass of a various selections of wines from around the globe, and for a wine lover like me, this is heaven! So I inserted my card, surveyed the selection and paused... Hmm... not many Aussie wines on the list, in fact not a SINGLE one! And come to think of it, Aussie wines were absent on many of the menus in other restaurants and bars in HK, their alternatives, bar the NZ wines, were average to say the least. And THAT lead to a light bulb moment...

WHAT if my hero, the new up and coming CEO of Australia's oldest wine empire set his sights on breaking the HK market? WHAT if he whisked the heroine to HK for a romantic week? What would they do? Hmm...

So tell me, what's the strangest way you've gotten a light bulb moment or some form of inspiration???

Back on the bench and on the fence

Last Friday I sent off baby number two into the abyss, which can only mean one thing....Back on the NTAI bench (many thanks to Jackie for coining this reference).

So, I guess the best way to adhere to NTAI would be to start my brand spanking shiny new project. But I have uno problemo....

I have two ideas floating, two heroines cast, (having some issues with my hero's, but that's another post altogether) and on the fence regarding which idea to go with. Do I tell Claire's story - A girl that falls in love with a rogue of a hero after he takes her to a football match? Or do I tell Abby's, the prodigal daughter - Ambitious, strong willed and clashes with our hero from the very first line on the page?

Funny enough my two heroines come from my latest fave show on TV - Packed To The Rafters (did I mention its my fave show??) Here are my two beautiful heroine's: Claire (Jessica McNamee) and Abby (Jessica Marais)

PS - Wonky images again because I can't work out how to resize them! Sorry...