Going Deeper

Yesterday my critique partners and I met, and we discussed deep POV (point of view). Really getting inside of the character's head and reading her thoughts and feelings as they happen to her.

One of my favorite authors is a master at deep POV. Suzanne Brockmann says she came up with that phrase when first asked to explain her writing style. She gets deep into the character's mind. As she says, "We hear things through his ears. We smell what he smells, feel what he feels, think what he thinks. With deep POV, I write using words that that character would use. I tell the story with that character's voice." And she is gifted at giving each of her character's his own voice. She doesn't need to write "he thought" or "he felt" because it is understood that the words she writes are this character's thoughts and feelings.

How can you make this work in your own writing?

Suzanne suggests a great exercise to try. She says, "Write a scene from the first person. Instead of using 'He' or your character's name, use 'I'. Instead of 'his', use 'my'. And so on. Write as if you are your hero. Describe the world with his voice. Tell us what he feels -- or what he'll admit to himself that he's feeling! Then, after you finish writing the scene, go back in and replace all the first person pronouns with third person pronouns or your hero's name. That's deep point of view!"

To read Suzanne's complete interview and more information about how she got started as a writer, please check out A Conversation with Suzanne Brockmann by Claire E. White.

The Big Rejection

I got my notice this week from the NY Editor. She has passed on my women's fiction manuscript after reviewing the first 50 pages. She wrote, "After several reads and much discussion, the overall consensus was that the writing wasn’t strong enough for our list." That sounds about right to me. I know my writing is much stronger now than what is was in that first manuscript.

So, I've decided to shelve my first manuscript for now. I don't have time to go back and revise the entire novel. I am much more engaged in writing a great contemporary romance that will get me my agent and my first publishing contract.

This rejection didn't hit as hard as some of the first ones. I have grown a thicker skin, I know. But more than that, I have such a strong belief in the story I am currently writing, I know I will get the "yes" letter sooner rather than later.

Plus, my support system of True Colors, my hubby and my mother kept my spirits up for two days via email as they discussed their views of my writing talents. Thanks Friends and Family! I love you all, too!

Working 2nd Shift

I'm not a morning person. Never have been, never will be. Just ask my mother.

What does this mean for me as a writer? a mother? a wife?

As a writer my most productive hours are in the afternoon and late night. I love sitting at my computer engrossed in my story while all the little kiddies are tucked up in their beds and my hubby, too. The house is silent around me. The dark night outside my window reflects back the image of me working. No distractions. When I reach my finishing point for the night, I play a few games of Spider Solitaire and check out what my friends have been up to on Facebook. Yeah, that adds another hour or so before I mosey up to bed, but it's my way of relaxing before trying to go to sleep.

As a mother and wife working the second shift is not ideal. My hubby has gently mentioned on several occasions that it's nice to see me at breakfast with the family. This is definitely a much bigger issue during the school year, and I do try harder to keep an earlier schedule then. I try, but not very successfully. In the summer it's not so bad. My kids are getting older and they can all manage to get their own breakfast whenever they wake up. They keep themselves amused during the morning hours that I'm sleeping.

Another issue is that my hubby is a light sleeper and when I come to bed so late, I usually end up waking him. Though the night I slammed my toes into the doorjamb he didn't hear a thing. OUCH! Go figure.

Knowing I'm a second shifter helps me in one way. It takes away the guilty feeling that I should be sitting at my computer every morning at 9 am and be finished by 5 pm. Those hours just don't work for me. It would be nice for my family if they did, but that's not my body's natural rhythms. And I believe this is genetically programmed.

I just had a conversation with my mother. My brother is unemployed and living with her. They have both followed their body rhythms and now stay up until 2 am and sleep until 10 am most days.

See it's genetics!

What's your natural body rhythm?

You will like The Birthday Present

I am so excited! Suzanne Graham, my best friend - we are so close, we could be twin sisters - just published her first story! And it is available for sale today!!!!

Suzanne started writing erotic romance last year and has already surfed her way off the slush pile. Go Suzanne!!!

Suzanne's story The Birthday Present is a hot read, set in Tenerife, Canary Islands, about two couples finding a special way to celebrate a birthday. I got the inside scoop from Suzanne that these four sexy people will return for a very special holiday in The Christmas Present.

So I hope you will buy Suzanne's book today. It's only a few bucks, and it's totally worth it!

It's outta here.

So, I took the suggestions from the last rejection letter of my historical western romance, and I revised my first 3 chapters. Using Margie Lawson's Deep Edits color-coded system, it was a fast and fun (I liked playing with my new highlighting markers) revision. Then I whipped out a new query letter and submitted to another epublisher. Now I sit and twiddle my fingers as I wait 1- 12 weeks for a response.

NO! Of course, I don't sit and twiddle my fingers as I wait.

There are other stories that need to be written as I wait. My contemporary romance is within six chapters of being finished. I've made incredible progress on it this summer even with the three boys home all day, thanks in large part to my weekly critique partners who have kept me on-task and enthusiastic about my story.

Yesterday, we did a marathon critique day. We'd missed last week due to my vacation, so we prepared 4 chapters each this week. 4 chapters! We read and laughed and critiqued and ate and read and critiqued and laughed and ate some more. After 6 hours(!) we had bitten off a big chunk of each of our stories, and we parted in good spirits. But boy, I was spent after all that concentration and those belly laughs.

So, if you are so obliged, I would love to add your crossed fingers to mine as I wait to hear back from the publishers.

Thanks!
Andrea