I have been sadly absent from this blog and most of social media for much of 2019. I never intended to take a break. I have a folder full of drafts of posts. I found myself struggling to fit my feelings into a professional veneer.

At the beginning of 2019, I determined to write and submit to publishers. I spent a lot of the year trying to fit my creativity into very specific parameters outlined by each house. And–to be honest–by November, I was drained.

I didn’t enter NaNoWriMo. I have notebooks full of ideas and several stories plotted out. But I lost a bit of the magic of storytelling in the slush pile.

I still have a goal to write for some of the big publishing houses. I hope to continue working with the fabulous team over at The Wild Rose Press. In 2020, I want to get back to writing stories of my heart.

My word of the year for 2020 is: fearless.

I want to find my creative courage again. I have several books (and sequels) that don’t quite fit anywhere. I’m going to pursue self-publishing again. I want to reignite my passion for writing and free myself from constraints. I want to have fun in the process. I can’t wait to get started.

 

 

TIME MATH

Let me explain…

***DISCLAIMER: Some Game of Thrones spoilers if you’ve been living under a rock. Also, I’m a casual fan–not an avid reader of the series. I’m discussing the TV show here. Story is story. My “problems” apply to any story–be it novel, movie, podcast, TV.

Leading up to the Game of Thrones premiere, my husband and I decided to binge the series. He is a huge fan. He’s read the books and watched all the shows. I’m sort of casually interested but became a HUGE fan of Westworld (and devote my time to watching/re-watching and theorizing that series). With Westworld on hiatus, I gave in and started watching.

Yep, it’s violent. Yep, at times it feels excessive. (I tried to skip over the whole Ramsay Bolton part). But I was lured in by the mystery surrounding Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. I’ve gone on a deep dive of the internet because…time math.

I turned into a walking version of the Charlie Day meme with the whiteboard because I still don’t quite understand the timing. (And if you do–comment, please.)

Lyanna meets Rhaegar at the Harrenhal tournament

Some point later she is “kidnapped”

Her older brother demands her release and is instead murdered alongside their father

Her younger brother gathers forces to start a war and free her–but oh wait, at some point in here her younger brother marries dead older brother’s fiancee and they have a son and Lyanna is found dying during childbirth (her baby is younger than her nephew btw) and enough time has passed her brother can convince his wife the baby is his bastard conceived during the war?

TIME MATH!

I’m pulled out of the story because I keep searching the Internet to try to make sense of what happened when (and if it is believable).

When I’m writing a story, I sit down and try to first make sense of how much time will pass in the book. If I’m writing something that takes several months, I will fill in a calendar. Whether I’m writing, reading, or watching a TV show, if you want me invested, the time has to make sense.

I want to know three basic things every scene to orient myself: Who am I? When am I? Where am I?

After a first draft, my first pass is looking at the opening of every scene to analyze whether I noted these things–and if they make sense. Did I skip over something important to hurry up and get to the plot problem? I have to give my characters room to process and grow–I can’t be rushing them along to satisfy their external goals because if they don’t change…what’s the point?

Do you have a reason you stop reading? Is it similar for every book?

 

 

 

Last weekend, I attended the Wisconsin Romance Writer’s bi-annual conference. Held in Milwaukee (this year), I left the Chicago suburbs on Thursday afternoon and returned Sunday late morning.

I’ve been to several romance writing conferences (both National and local). I had an idea of what to expect. Every experience has been a chance to learn from workshops, network with authors, pitch to editors and/or agents, and hang out with writing friends.

I signed up for an all-day intensive class on storytelling with Lisa Cron, author of Story Genius and Wired for Story. I feel like I am looking at my work (projects in draft form, ideas for future novels, and works in progress) with fresh eyes. Filling the pages of a notebook as she spoke, Lisa’s words resonated. As she walked us through a process to really ignite how to tell a story, she helped me stitch together a lot of disparate ideas and theories I’ve studied.

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a class led by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi about emotional wounds. Later in the afternoon, Lisa taught another class about scenes. Both of these workshops built off each other and the class on Friday. For the first time ever, during one of the classes, I was successful at following along with an exercise.

This never happens. I usually need to keep thinking for a while to really digest what the instructors are looking for. But the instantaneous processing and understanding of an exercise really lit a fire in me. Since coming home, I have started a deep dive into a project that I know will strengthen the complete novel. I’m excited to put the different techniques into my craft.

I feel re-energized to finish the (very full) slate of projects on my desk and get these novels polished and published. Of course, like always, I had a wonderful time chatting with other authors. Photos of my weekend are up on my Instagram feed, click here. I was delighted to meet fellow Wild Rose Press Sweetheart Rose author, Laurie Winter. Any time spent with my Chicago North chapter mates is a great time.

Can’t wait for Chicago Spring Fling 2020. If you’re on the fence about coming, say yes. Take the time to invest in yourself and your career. I have never regretted a conference and am grateful to be part of a local RWA chapter so I don’t have to wait a full year for the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. More about Chicago North, click here.