pillow talk :: revisions :: the final sweep

SLASH & BURN

I'm down to the final few days of revising my current MS.  In fact the revisions are done, I'm now in the cutting phase.  It's 5500 too long so the slash and burn is on!!!

I actually love this part,  The tightening.  The honing.  Making sure every single word is important.  I  actually find it soothing.

Probably because I write by the seat of my pants and Iif I write a bit I'm not happy with I highlight in yellow and move on.  And being able to delete or fix those yellow bits, and make them white, is like decluttering a room.  I feel all free and light and like I can breath better when its done.

This is the final sweep, so watch this space. Any day now!!!

For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website.

  

pillow talk :: revisions :: voices in your head

LISTENING TO YOUR MUSE

So my hero Gabe started talking to me today.  Clear as day.  As I read his dialogue it was like he was standing right beside me, rumbling his lines in the deepest most delicious voice ever.

I realised quick smart that it was a voice I knew.   As a shiny new but wholehearted total True Blood fanatic (I'm only halfway through season 4 so no spoilers please!!!) I'm very familiar with this man.

I give you Joe Manganiello AKA Alcide the werewolf in the world of Sookie Stackhouse.  He's 6'5", with muscles on muscles and has a voice that'll make your knees wobble.  He's also in the upcoming Steven Soderbergh film "Magic Mike" if you'd like to see him strip ;).  I'm just sayin'.

But apart from all that smoke and mirrors, his voice on my Gabe has made so many things that were mere concepts at that point feel real.  My hero has levels, and volume, and tone.  It's moments like these - the unexpected visceral moments that make this job something truly special.

Here's a little Alcide just so you can her the voice.  No other reason, I promise.

For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website.

Success! (see yesterday's post)

ballet or not ballet...

Curly Girl (4) has her first ever ballet concert today.

She and about 25 other pre-schoolers will be on stage with Angelina Ballerina herself to close out the show.  She is sooo keen, which is just beautiful to see, while I foresee about a half dozen points at which she might well dig in her heels and that'll be that!

The bun.  With her ringlet curls she haaaates having her hair brushed.  Add hairspray, bobbypins, bun net, this is gonna be an adventure!

The stage. I have to pass her off to her teacher with a trillion other little ballerinas, most of whom she won't ever have met.  Touch and go as to how that will go down. Then there's the stage, the lights, nerve-wracking enough for a grown up much less an itty bitty little girl!

The super-sized mouse.  She's sooo excited about dancing with Angelina.  When hearing about this concert she asked me if she could please be involved for that reason.  But a cartoon on a screen is a little different from a 6 foot mouse in a tutu!

So while I, and the 9 others who are coming to watch her, trundle up to the concert hall an hour early for a 1 and a half hour concert, which she closes, we'll be on baited breath...to say the least ;).

Watch...this...space...

I'm reading...Sarah Mayberry

HER BEST WORST MISTAKE

My heading ought to be I'm reading...Sarah Mayberry...again!  Along with Rachel Gibson, Sarah is my go to girl right now.  I'm blissfully ploughing through her glorious backlist and gleefully snuggling up with her front list as they come along.

HER BEST WORST MISTAKE is Sarah's first self-published book but it is a companion piece to her Harlequin Blaze, HOT ISLAND NIGHTS from a few years back.  As luck would have it I'd read that first book when it came out, so the leads in this were familiar, but honestly you don't need to have read the former to absolutely fall in and crazy love with the current.

Did I love it?  Oh my god, did I ever!!!  This book is unique, sexy, warm, rich, contextual, with two supremely excellent characters.  Martin is stuffy, complete with leather elbow patches on his cardigans.  I mean, come on, how can a guy like that be a modern romantic lead?  The heroine, Violet, likes herself short skirts, fishnets and animal prints who, in one of her lesser moments flashes out hero while blowing a raspberry. And by god they're just heaven!

Buy it, buy it, BUY IT!  Read it, love it, want more Sarah books.  That's about the extent of it.  I promise.

THE BLURB:

She thinks he's stuffy. He thinks she's spoilt.  Then the gloves come off and so do their clothes!

For six years Violet Sutcliffe has known that Martin St Clair is the wrong man for her best friend. He's stuffy, old before his time, conservative. He drives Violet nuts - and the feeling is entirely mutual. Then, out of nowhere, her friend walks out just weeks before her wedding to Martin, flying to Australia on a mission of self-discovery. Back in London, Violet finds herself feeling sorry for suddenly-single Martin. At least, she tells herself it's pity she feels. Then he comes calling one dark, stormy night and they discover that beneath their mutual dislike there lies a fiery sexual chemistry.

It's crazy and all-consuming - and utterly wrong. Because not only are they chalk and cheese, oil and water, but Martin once belonged to her best friend. A friend Violet is terrified of losing. What future can there be for a relationship with so many strikes against it?

Sarah says: "This book is a spin off from my Blaze novel, Hot Island Nights. Both stories can be read in isolation and still make perfect sense, but I hope that together they form a neat little duo."

More about the author here.  Buy the books here.

Next I’m reading... Break Out (A Blood Hunter novel)  by Nina Croft.

What are you reading?  Which book MUST I read this year?    Find the other books I've enjoyed in my "I'm reading..." series this year here!  Or join me at GoodReads.

thanks for the thanks, and you're welcome!

One of the super nice things about getting reprints of early stories - apart from the oftentimes super hot covers! - is finding new readers.  New readers who take the time to write a lovely note about how much they enjoyed one's book.  It even gets me all teary at times.  Honestly!

Here's a couple about GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS which was out in the UK, Australia & New Zealand recently in the BOARDROOM HOTSHOTS collection.

Here's a couple of gorgeous snippets:

"I came across one of your short novels neatly nestled between the covers of a three in one book Boardroom Hot-Shots, Getting Down to Business.  The story captured me and for a minute there I actually thought it was me in the story! Abbey's character reminded me so much of myself and in that story you taught me something about myself too.  It takes skill to write, but it takes true talent and soul to put one's dreams and imagination on paper and share it with the world like you do.  Thank you for being such an inspiration."

And...

"The story line was totally believable, the characters great and the humour of your writing really completed a great finished product. I love reading great romance.  I co-own three companies and have four children.  Reading books like yours is the relaxing escape the doctor ordered."

Thanks Jessica and Kari, you made my day!

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS was re-released as part of the Boardroom Hot-shots collection.
Buy the paperback.  Buy the eBook.  Buy from iTunes.  More about the book

pillow talk :: revisions :: it's all about character

CHARACTER

So romance writing is all about character, so if you're going to get revision suggestions there's a high likelihood it will be about character.

My heroine Paige feels set.  I understood her from early on the process.  The hero took longer for me to pin down, as he's a true strong silent type.  And it showed, hence the majority of the changes I need to make to strengthen the story revolving around the hero.

Things most often needing strengthening in revisions are:  conflict  - what's keeping your hero and heroine apart.  Motivation - what do they want most, what would they have to give up in order to love be with one another.  Believability of action and reaction.  Likeability.  Do you care enough about her to want her to get her man?  Is he strong enough, gorgeous enough, sexy enough etc etc etc.?

Secondary characters - these guys a big deal for me.  Something I do, and I hope, do well.  But they can't overshadow the main story.

So expect your character to be a big part of any revision suggestions you might have.

And okay, this subject is an excuse for you to meet the hero of my current WIP.  Meet Gabe Hamilton.  Strong enough?  Gorgeous enough?  Sexy enough?  Oooohhh yeeeeah...

For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website

pillow talk :: revisions :: protect your voice

PROTECT YOUR VOICE

When revision suggestions come in from an editor or agent, that's what they are - suggestions.  All the both of you want is to make the book as good as it can be.

Working with a great editor is like brainstorming, throwing ideas at the book to see what'll stick.  I've had some editorial suggestions that have been like a slap across the back of the head.  A total "Duh! Why didn't I think of that!"  Others ideas that have set the creative juices flowing until a comparable alternative has been found.  So long as the inherent problems are addressed that's the main thing.  However you get there doesn't matter, so long as you get there.  And if you can do so in a way that feels like you, that makes it feel still completely your story, then all the better.

Taking a step back, before you even send your manuscript in, if there's something odd, unusual, left of centre that comes out in your writing, and you love it, don't assume your editor won't too.

THE BLONDE BOMBSHELL is known to me as the one about the wicked lift, the flamingo, and the missing bed.  There are movie references galore.  And the POV of a most unexpected character.  Until the final proof edits (the last chance an author has to make any final tiny changes, check typos etc.) I can't be sure they'll all get to stay, but so far so good!  Which gives this writer a buzz, a love of the book, and a big grin as I jump into my revisions some more.

The next part of this Pillow Talk series in revisions will be about character. 

For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website here.