Wicked Wenches

Keep them doggies rolling. Or heads or anything else rolling in your story. What to write about today? Hmmm. Well, I unfortunately spent the week mourning my grandfather so no writing got done. Today though I’m back in the saddle. I’m nearing the end of the story and working my way to the final conflict. I’d love to finish this by the end of the week but I need another 17K words and I can’t see that happening. It might if I can get some people to sprint with me. It helps me focus when there are other people doing it at the same time and I have to post the results of the time spent.

I loved Nano last year because when a friend of mine got ahead of my word count I knew I needed to bust my a** to get ahead of her. Maybe this was a two way street or maybe I’m the competitive one. Either way we both won Nano. Of course, what I’d written had to be completely hacked apart and rewritten, but it helped me realize who my characters were and the way I really wanted the story to go.

Has anyone tried word sprints? Set the timer for 30 minutes and don’t allow yourself to do anything but write? It works for me.

I had this nice long blog about writing challenges and goals and the computer ate it. So here’s the shortened version. Goals are good. Making short term goals for writing is awesome even if it’s just I want to write 1000 words. Challenges have sprung up all over the web. NaNoWriMo is a challenge to write 50K words in the month of November. This challenge draws writers of all shapes and sizes. There’s also the 70 Days of Sweat. Write 1000 words a day for 70 days. These challenges exist as a way for the writer to be part of something larger. To get advice and encouragement from other writers.

What motivates you? What goals make your writing stronger? Have you participated in a Challenge?

Every writer approaches writing differently. Some wake at the crack of dawn, others burn the midnight oil. Some write on legal pads, others bang out words on keyboards. Another difference is tolerated noise level. Sound, silence, something in between. Sometimes I prefer silence for writing. I’ve been known to plug the headphones in, put them over my ears and then forget to turn on the music as the story sucks me in. Other times I just can’t get a feel for a story until I make a playlist specifically for that story. Other times I’ll develop a new playlist just to write by. I have a number of playlists on my iTunes, here’s a few:

Kicking butt and taking names includes Prophecy by Remy Zero, Pump It by Black Eyed Peas, Make Yourself by Incubus, Stronger by Kanye West, and more

God, I’m so in love includes The Night is Still Young by Billy Joel, Ride by Cary Brothers, Have a Little Faith in Me by John Hiatt, Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel, Answer by Sarah McLachlan, Secret Smile by Semisonic, Wild Horses by the Sundays, and more

Race against time includes Tonight, Tonight by Genesis, What I’ve Done by Linkin Park, Bitemarks and Bloodstains by Finch, Teardrop by Massive Attack, These Things by She Wants Revenge, and more

Sad song mix includes Come What May by Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor, Tell Her This by Del Amitri, Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World, Sideways by Citizen Cope, The Weakness in Me by Joan Armatrading, Rest Stop by Matchbox Twenty, I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt, Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap and more

Movies have soundtracks and if you listen closely so do books. So here’s the current soundtrack to my WIP -

Animal I Have Become by Three Days Grace, Teardrop by Massive Attack, Disarm by Smashing Pumpkins, When We Dance by Sting, Elsewhere by Sarah McLachlan, Cautioners by Jimmy Eat World, Closer by Nine Inch Nails, Apologize by Timbaland, Sooner or Later by Switchfoot, and You by Fisher.

Actually it was harder than I thought. The hard ones were the end and the lead into the black moment.

So what’s your preference, sound or silence? What do you listen to? Does you book have a soundtrack?

I always wanted to write ever since I was little. My next door neighbor was an author of etiquette books. I used to scoff at romance novels until I actually read one. I love reading romance novels. I never really read before I found romance novels (which were my mom’s). No, I didn’t read Nancy Drew or that twin series that was so popular. I never read “Hello, God It’s Me, Margaret.” I know I don’t deserve to call myself a girl. I skipped the kid stuff and went straight to adult.

So I’ve always wanted to write and I love romances. Great, so why paranormal? Because it’s hot right now? Because everyone else is finding their inner paranormal themed book? Well, let’s go back to what romances I read. I started on category romances, Silhouette Desire. Then came the historicals. I totally loved historicals which led me to Jude Devereaux and Johanna Lindsey. Some of my favorite Jude Devereaux’s were the time travels and Johanna Lindsey’s futuristics were awesome. I’ve always had a thing for the bad boy, alpha male hero, the destined lovers, and who better to encompass that than a vampire. I gobbled up anything vampire.

Back in high school, the first novel I outlined had a ghost/poltergeist in it. The novel I plotted while at college had a vampire. If a book has something paranormal going on in it, I want to read it, so wouldn’t it make sense that I want to write what I read, what I have a passion for? Well, yeah. So here I am writing away at my paranormal romance (well) over 20 years from where I started as a little starstruck neighborhood girl. I’ve dabbled here and there over the years, but this time I’m sticking with it.