Tuesday Testimonial: Torchlight

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space.  It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe.  It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.  ~Michael Strassfeld

 A recent post by my friend, Annette Lyon, has me thinking this morning about all the writers, editors, and publishers who willingly share what they know, what they are experiencing, and what they are learning through blogs and websites. There is a hefty amount of information out there, right at our fingertips, and we only need to read, or listen in some cases, to draw on that knowledge and apply it to our craft. Yes, we need to be wise and careful not to believe everything out there, but it's easy to get third and fourth witnesses of an idea, whether it works or not, or find an idea that clicks with our particular personality or methods, and improve ourselves.

Publishers post their guidelines for submissions on their websites, and the guidelines vary from company to company. Agents post what they require, what they are looking for, and what they are not accepting. Editors blast post after post about what they don't want to see, what they shouldn't have to edit, how to do it correctly. Authors post the in's and out's, the do's and do not's. They shout for joy and lament with us. They tell us to keep trying.

And all the while, we are encouraged, corrected, guided.

 

We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own.  ~Ben Sweetland

 Thanks, everyone, for the torchlight.

Tuesday Testimonial: An Author's Playground

Writing became such a process of discovery that I couldn't wait to get to work in the morning:  I wanted to know what I was going to say. 

 ~Sharon O'Brien

I began a new story last night. I was going to put it off because I was just given some feedback on Remnant. Robison Wells read all 184,059 words (more or less) and amid his positive raves, suggested (among other things and without too much surprise) that I make it shorter. Much shorter. But that is a post for Monday Mess, wouldn't you agree?

In order to tackle the revisions of Remnant, I will print out the manuscript, put it in a binder, and grab the red pen. In order to do that, I need a printer. Which I have ordered. From Amazon.com. It's on it's way (thank you again, Shanda at LDS Womens Book Review, for the gift card I won over Christmas), but until its delivery, a story was circling, and I couldn't sleep until I had at least written a scene, fleshed out names, and landed a setting.

I love this part of beginning a new story. The very basics of creation. There is a shadow of a plot, yes, and since I'm a moderate outliner, that will come. But this is how I start. The scene in my head is written down. I don't know if it will be the opening scene, and it really doesn't matter at this point. Characters gain physical traits and adopt a certain sound, and attract a name, first and last. The scene becomes very focused on characters and movement and I wonder. Where in the world are you?

Yes, I talk. In my head. Okay, maybe I might whisper, but only sometimes. I think.

BAM. I know where they are, the scene opens up. Of course that's where they are and I think I'll have to work in a trip because it's been awhile since my last visit.

I stayed up until 2:54 am.
I'd forgotten how time flies when you're playing in your head. I woke up with the words I had written running through my mind, ideas shooting around in my periphery.

I LOVE THIS.

*REMINDER: Enter my 100th Follower Contest here! Comments below will also gain you an entry after you become a follower.

Tuesday Testimonial: Anonymous Who?

There is a reason I don't allow Anonymous commentors on this blog. The week my book, THE ORCHARD, was accepted, I took a deep, happy breath, and posted the first 364 words of chapter 1, a mere page and two lines, here on this blog. I loved the scene and had received a lot of praise over the rhythm, the imagery. M. Gray commented. It was lovely and made me smile.
Then, somehow, as I believe my followers were at 4 at that point, Anonymous found me. Ripped it apart. Where was the love interest? Why was the character lamenting? Present the eviction notice! Then they listed a large number of questions and possible outcomes of where in the world this story could be headed and pointed out that I hadn't addressed a single one yet. My writing was drivel. Pretty drivel.
I was dumbfounded.
Had they not read that the book was complete? That the series was actually complete? Was I supposed to have my love interest come traipsing up in this quiet, compelling moment and introduce himself? Was I to have the lawyer blast through the trees at 8:00 p.m. and thrust the foreclusure papers up through the branches? All on the first page? Really? Really. I was asking myself these questions and considering changes because this was all so new and I knew I had much to learn and this Anonymous sounded like they knew what they were talking about. I was near tears.
I humbly replied, assuring them that the plot takes off just after this scene, that I only posted it for its imagery, and since the book was accepted, and completed, the publisher must see something. As I wrote, I realized something. This short, quiet opening scene had made this Anonymous reader ask questions. It made them wonder what would happen next (albeit, impatiently). They had 10 possible scenarios written right in their comment, wondering, demanding. I pointed this out in my reply, that perhaps this was a good thing.
Anonymous commented back. With a vengeance. How dare I? They had been published many times over! There were "Ha ha ha's" and lots of !!! And then came a list of numerous ways to NEVER begin a novel. It ended with a congratulations I could give no weight to.
My hands shook as I leaned into my husbands shoulder and he offered to write the next reply. As we talked about why someone would launch such an attack on a beginning author without at least earning my respect for who they were or their accomplishments, another comment popped up.

Bonnie said...
Good job. The way to keep me reading is NOT to outline the entire plot in the first few lines! In fact I'd rather you keep me up in the wee hours trying to find out!

I could breathe again. Bonnie was my new friend.
When I woke up the next morning, I knew it would be best to delete the offending comments and block anonymous commentors from the blog. I also took another deep breath and posted the entire first chapter in place of the small opening. Some of you may think my actions a bit cowardly, but I felt empowered. And I learned this: Comments like that from someone unnamed, no matter what their claim of expertise, are weightless. Even if there was truth in their critique, I would go elsewhere to learn more. People with names and manners and known expertise. Strangely, I also felt it might be better for Anonymous not to have those comments posted. I'm crazy-protective like that.
Since then, I've been critiqued up and down, and if you've been reading my posts here, you know how I take it. I need it. Give me feedback, and I'll do my best with it. I've written several opening scenes since I've begun writing, each different and fitting of the storyline and genre, some quiet, some jumping out of the starting gates. The thing is, I'm still writing. I'm still sticking my neck out.

Thanks, Bonnie. Your simple comment meant more than you think it did. I'll never forget it. Or your name.

Tuesday Testimonial: The Kiss

Maybe it's because I'm sick, or maybe it's because my husband was sick before I got sick and now that he is better he doesn't want to get sick... whatever, but my mind has been meandering on The Kiss. Maybe because I miss it.
As you may know, I have been editing. Editing editing editing. Several different stories. And my heart still always skips around and pounds when I get to The Kiss. And I got to thinking, is this what I love about the Romance genre?
No. It's not the only thing. I love the meet, I love the chemistry, I love the conflict, the symbolism, the banter, the fight, the play, the devastation... I love it all.
But I tell you what... I was pretty ticked off at the end of Clash of the Titans. WHAT? A side hug? OH COME ON.
Sheesh.

So, yeah, maybe The Kiss is pretty high up there on my priority list.

Actually, my first experience with writing a kiss (you thought I was going to share a personal story, didn't you? Ha.) was also my first experience with my characters taking off on their own. I had no intention of a first kiss taking place at that particular point in the story, and then my male lead said, "Uh, yeah, I think so," and I gasped, really, out loud, and said, "Oh my gosh he's going to kiss her," and my fingers kept on flying over the keyboard, detached from my intentions.
After I finished the scene, my husband walked through the room.
"Honey, you will never guess what just happened."
"What?"
"Derick just kissed Alisen and there was NOTHING I could do about it."
"Good for him."
"No, you don't understand. I did NOT mean for it to happen then. They're not supposed to kiss until later."
"Hm. Well, sometimes, we just can't help ourselves." He grinned, sauntered over, and planted one on me. Mmm.

But he totally missed the point. And besides, it took HIM four weeks to kiss me the first time.

I was astounded by what had happened.
I took it to my writing group, and they agreed. Though it was a breath-taking moment, Derick had jumped the gun. It was too soon. I cut The Kiss. Fortunately for him, and me, the perfect time came not too much later, and since I had already written the breath-taking moment, it was easy to slip it in. Er.

So, as a treat, I'm sharing a kiss from THE ORCHARD. It's not the first kiss, because I don't want to give that away. Enjoy.

He’d had enough of two things: One, her father’s mind games, intentional or not, angered him, had his defenses up, and he didn’t want to feel that way right now; and, two, Alisen was so close, playing with his hand, turning her face up to his, opening herself up to him so honestly. His arm around her shoulder constricted, pulling her up to him.

His mouth met hers, the salt on her lips accentuating the sweetness of her skin. She responded and her hand traced his cheek to his jaw, his neck, then reached around and fingered his hair. He stopped kissing her and brushed her eyelashes and cheekbones with the tip of his nose.

“Alisen?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“Derick?”

“Yes?”

“I’ll tell you anything.”

Her lips found his again.

They were a little lightheaded when they left the rock.

Whew. Anyway, I've been wondering, do you have a favorite Kiss moment, from movies or literature? Share it!

In the meantime, I'm high-dosing the Vitamin C.



*UPDATE: I just got word on my submission of THE INN! Covenant likes it, the rewrite suggestions are where my concerns were anyway, and I can breathe as my mind works to address the revisions! HOORAY!! *skip around the room*

Tuesday Testimonial: Patience

“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.” -Corazon Aquino

 In lieu of Tuesday Edit Crunch (because until I hear back about my second book I am stumped about what to cover next), I will be sharing Tuesday Testimonial! And, as I have already hinted, this first testimonial will address a subject I have recently declared the possible crown of all submitting authors:

PATIENCE

If you look at it long enough it starts to look foreign, doesn't it? Like some french word for an amazingly rich pastry in a paper doily. Mmm... pastry.

Chocolate sauce, anyone?

Am I right, though? It is not enough to "open a vein" and pour ourselves out onto paper (or screen), then take a deep breath and push a creation out for others, and not just any others, but those whose job it is to judge it, and then... wait. And wonder, and clean our desk and go through the motions and make wrong turns and space out during conversations and start to say things like, "Oh, that is Dierdre's favorite song," or, "Galahad went through a very similar experience," and you're referring to your main characters so people look at you funny. Waiting. Cuckoo.
No, it's not enough. My favorite part of the above quote are the words, with resignations. It's the phrase that makes the rest of it, the blazing, serene hope, human. I can do that. I have resignations. But I think my hope is pretty blazing, if not entirely serene (eye twitch).

The manifestation of my blazing, serene hope, is that I am still writing. I am still going back and editing my brains out for stories I have yet to submit and have no idea how they will be received. I am on the lookout for the next story. It is in how I allow a moment to envision my book in my hands, the weight of it, what the cover might look like, how I might avoid the reviews, and how I might not, how the story might touch others. And the next story. And the next.
I told my writing group, "Anyone who wants to learn patience, write a book, and submit it." I'll add to it. 
Anyone who wants to learn of faith, keep writing.


Are you up for the lesson?