Lacey Alexander says, "EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT WRITING I LEARNED FROM EINSTEIN"
The Romance Writer's Revenge is proud to welcome our first guest blogger since setting sail on the new ship. Today we welcome Erotica author Lacey Alexander, aka Erotic Romance author Toni Blake. That's right, a RITA nominated author is on the decks! How cool is that?!? Lacey's latest release, SEVEN NIGHTS OF SIN, can be found at a bookstore near you so be sure to run out for your copy today! And now, herrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre's Lacey!
EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT WRITING I LEARNED FROM EINSTEIN
Okay, that’s a rash exaggeration. But I did learn one important thing about writing from Einstein, and I’ll get to that in a minute.
First, though, lets talk about creativity. A simple subject, right? Yet so very complex, too.
I believe that for many of us, creativity is something we’re born with. I was living in my head (making up stories about how Donny Osmond was in love with me, don’t ya know) at the age of five. In fact, Donny doesn’t know this, but he drove me to school quite frequently when I was in the first grade, and no, he didn’t care about the age difference. J By seven, teachers were telling me how creative I was, and I wasn’t trying to be creative – but it was something they saw in me.
What can be trickier is containing your creativity. The creative mind can be all over the board, spouting so many ideas that they can never all be pursued, starting one project but then hopping onto another because you just can’t help yourself. In the novel-writing world, controlling creativity is a necessary skill – you have to stay focused, and you must weigh all sorts of practical issues against your creative ones and hope they all balance out.
And where does creativity come from? Who can say what creates that initial spark, but as we grow in our creativity, I think it’s possible to start recognizing what ignites it, what really sets it off in each individual person.
For me, I get very creative when traveling. I don’t think this is at all unique – I’ve always read that seeing new places and things naturally triggers new ideas – but what amazes me is how consistent this is for me. I never plan to come up with new book ideas on vacation – and really, it can be a hindrance, because I’m on vacation, trying to relax and clear my head. But I always, always, always come home from travel with one or more entirely new book ideas plotted from start to finish.
Creativity also extends into problem-solving, and this is where Einstein comes in. I once read that Einstein believed we are at our most creative when we are just about to drift off to sleep. And that he would test this by sitting in a chair, holding a spoon, and letting himself nod off. The second he fell asleep the spoon hit the floor, waking him up. This enabled him to recall the thoughts and ideas in his head right before be drifted off, and I believe he is said to have done this when he was having trouble solving scientific problems – and he would often get the answer in those last moments before sleep.
If this sounds like a bunch of hooey, it’s not. I know because I use this method of creative problem-solving all the time. I don’t do the whole spoon thing, but very often when I am confronted with a plotting problem or just can’t quite figure out something in my current story, I go take a nap. Sounds unproductive, I know – but actually, it’s work. (Very relaxing, cozy work, I admit, but I still say it’s work. J) As I lay down, I think about the problem, the characters, whatever they’re facing, whatever the dilemma is. I just start turning it all over in my mind, and sometimes asking myself a series of “what if” questions. Before I know it, I’m waking up from my nap – with the answer to my problem. It’s really quite amazing and almost always works for me.
So what makes you creative or inspires you? Where do you get your story ideas? And how do you use that creative mind of yours to work through plot problems? If you’ve got new solutions I haven’t heard before, I want to hear ‘em! And I’d love to talk more about creativity in general. Do you believe you’re born with it or can it be learned? Is it like a muscle – if it’s not used, will it wither and die? Talk to me, pirates.
And, of course, feel free to stray from the subject if you like, too. I’m happy to answer any questions about writing, the industry, whatever floats your boat. And since I have a new book out (SEVEN NIGHTS OF SIN, by Lacey Alexander, at a bookstore near you!) I’m always happy to talk about that, too! J
Books by the Crew
61 comments:
Great post, Lacey. I never believed in Santa Claus, but I really belive in the Muse. Ideas come out of nowhere at most any time of the day. I'm a total pantser and cannot outline what comes next, but I trust my fingers will find the right keys eventually. I envy those who know what their story is from the get-go, but it's always a surprise to me. Kind of scary. But cool (or maybe I'm just delusional and it's crazy!).
Hi Toni/Lacey! Good to 'see' you here.
I'm much like Maggie in my creativity, but I also seem to be highly creative at times when I have no ability to write my ideas down- like when I'm driving with the music blaring.
I do think we're all born with a certain amount of creativity,it seems like all children have wonderful imaginations,but at some point I think some of us stay in our heads(to some degree) and 'grow' our imaginations while others don't.
But I don't know if creativity would wither if not used. That's a very interesting idea to think about. I also don't really think creativity can be learned.
Last thing: How do you create such palpable sexual tension in your work? That's a huge problem for me in my writing.
I'm in awe of writers. I had a hard time doing a piece for my local romance monthly. I agonized over the wording and it was under 500 words.
My creativity is much more hands on - I sew, cross stitch and try to knit. I love creating a picture from nothing (counted cross stitch) and when I had time cutting out a pattern and have it become something wearable.
I read an excerpt of Seven Nights of Sin - looks great. Now I have to add it to my long list of wishlisted books. SIGH. :)
Hi Toni/Lacey,
I wish that I was more creative...I don't really have a creative bone in my body. Ok, I do a little bit of scrapbooking but then I'm not real creative there either.
So, I think that creativity is something that it is something that you are born with. I love your writing!
Have a great day.
Hi Toni! I always wanted to write, yet I find I'm just not all that disciplined, so I never pursued it seriously. I do try and use my creativity in coming up with ideas at work. We do a lot of promotions and events, and I try to incorporate fun, inventive concepts to go along with our company's mission. I really enjoy it, even though it can be challenging.
And just so you know, I am LOVING "Seven Nights of Sin". I'm reading it slowly because I want to savor it and the wait between books is too long for my peace of mind LOL.
Good morning, Lacey/Toni! I'm having a horrible morning so it was nice to sit down at my desk and remember we get to have this fun discussion today. Now if only my coffee would cool down I'd be all set.
I experience that problem solving while trying to fall asleep all the time. Heaven forbid new characters show up because that is the time they want to tell me all about themselves. I've gotten out of bed more than once to write things down because that's t he only way they will let me go to sleep.
But for me, driving is the best time to think. Due to circumstances in my life, I make long (8hrs or more) road trips about about 10 times a year. Since it's usually the same drive everytime, I never have to think about where I'm going. Which means my mind can wonder to other things and that always seems to be my story.
I'm also pretty sure I've lost much of the creativity I had when I was younger. Marriage, child, office work, all of this contributed to sucking the imagination right out of me. I'm trying to get it back but it's not coming as easily as it used to do.
Well, good morning, pirates! Color me delighted to sign on and see such a lively discussion going already : ) I want to respond to each of you, but I'll split it into a few messages, since I'm the wordy sort ; )
To Kelly and Maggie - I DO believe "trust" is a part of creativity. Whether it's trusting yourself to tell the story the right way or trusting yourself to remember the pertinent parts of the stuff you thought of when you couldn't write it down ; )
Although I AM an outliner to a large degree, I don't at all carefully map out the actual writing part - I just wing it, fix what doesn't seem to be right or going in the right direction, and trust myself to get it right. I think this kind of trust comes as part of the learning process, and it's just a part of my method now - I've written enough to know how I work and trust it, and I believe that the more you write, the more you learn to understand what works for you.
As for not being able to hold onto all your creative thoughts, that happens to me all the time, too. I used to really fret over it, but over time I made peace with the issue by deciding that my brain was hopefully smart enough to hold on to the most important parts. And I'm also an "everything happens for a reason" person, so I just decided to start trusting that the book would turn out the way it should, whether or not I was able to recall every fabulous idea I had for it while falling asleep ; )
So trust in your creative selves, ladies : )
Hi Lacey/Toni! Welcome aboard!
I love what you said about controlling creativity. I think that one's hard to manage for us right-brain types. But, though writing is a very creative and abstract pursuit, if I let myself write like that, I get completely lost and totally unproductive.
I do sleep on big problems in my plot though. But, my ideas generally come from people watching, movies, or stories I read in the paper or online.
Palpable sexual tension. Hmm. Don't smack me, but that's a darn good question that I'm not sure I have the answer to. It's one of those parts of my writing that has always come naturally to me, so I haven't had to "think through my process" all that much, but I'll take a stab here at a few random thoughts on it.
By using mostly alpha males in my work, guys who are gruff and not generally nice right off the bat, that right there creates tension. She's wildly attracted to him physically, but he's gruff and mean - so that sets up an instant push/pull, a personality conflict, from the start.
In fact, until the couple is having sex and both are happy and content with that, the physical is always battling with the mental, and that keeps the tension always constantly on the page.
So maybe it comes down to conflict. Many a time I'm plotting and I reach a certain point where I have to stop and think: But wait, what's standing between them? What's keeping them apart? As long as there's something strong standing between them but they're lusting after each other and maybe already having sex without having resolved their problems, this is where your sexual tension comes from.
Or at least I think it's where *mine* comes from ; )
And always keep the characters physically aware of one another. Little things as well as big. He might notice something overtly sexual about her one second, like her cleavage, but in the next he'll be moved by something as simple as her smile.
Hope that helps : )
Oh, and additional thought. As I am wont to do, I sort of answered this from a Toni Blake POV ; ) But in my Lacey books, the same general theory more or less applies, I think - just with a twist. The Toni books are about romance at heart, so the conflict that's building the tension is really about what's going on between these two people. The Lacey books, however, are, at heart, more about sex and a sexual journey, so the tension-building conflict there can be more singular - more like the heroine's inner conflict or war with herself over what she's experiencing and why she's making the decisions she's making.
Hi Ann - and thanks so much for adding 7 NIGHTS OF SN to your TBB list : ) I'm thrilled you enjoyed the excerpt, and thanks for checking it out!
One reason I love discussing creativity is because it CAN manifest itself in so many ways. I'm a crafty person, too - and I think I'm just very driven to "make something out of nothing" or "make something where there was nothing before," whether it's a book or a quilt.
And I know what you mean about watching a picture come together - I do counted cross-stitch, too : ) And right now I'm making an applique quilt I designed with a winter scene on it and watching the picture come together was by far the most exciting and satisfying part.
And don't beat yourself up over the 500 word piece. Much of writing is about practice ; ) The more you write, the easier it gets : )
Hi Lori and Stacy. Sounds to me like you're both more creative than you give yourselves credit for. I'm also a scrapbooker, Lori, and that takes a LOT of creativity - you're totally starting from scratch and deciding the best way to display specific pictures or events. And speaking of events, Stacy, I love hearing how your apply your creativity to stuff like event-planning. There's definitely an art to that which I can appreciate : )
Hi Terrio! I hope your coffee has cooled by now ; ) And thanks for the nice welcome : )
Yeah, I hear ya on stuff coming to you while you're trying to go to sleep. I lose hours and hours of sleep this way and lately have even started trying to find ways to stop it so I can actually GET some sleep. That said, when I NEED to focus on my story, I'm still happy to use that "quiet time" to do so : )
And those long trips DO sound like great times for thinking and creativity. I never have much occasion to travel long distances alone, but like I said in the blog post, I'm always more creative when traveling at all. Even if it's just to a local park or something. I think any change of scenery outside of your home and work (places you are most of the time very consistently) really has the power to stimulate the brain and get it thinking in new ways.
I'm interested in the fact that you think marriage, children, etc. has slowed your creativity some. I can understand that - kids, etc., require your mind to focus on things you MUST focus on as opposed to allowing it to go wherever it wants. But from talking with friends with kids (I'm married but without children) it sounds to me like the creativity often comes back later, as the kids get older.
Any writing technique that uses a NAP as a part of the "curriculum" is something I'm totally on board with. (Although I'd never wake up if the spoon dropped to the floor. I sleep through a LOT.)
I do a lot of my creative what-iffing when I drive. Sometimes I can have my POTC3 soundtrack playing, but many times I have it quiet and I just think it out. Something about driving that gets part of my brain out of the way so I can think things through.
Stacy - almost forgot - I'm thrilled your enjoying 7 NIGHTS OF SIN : ) And thanks for getting it. AND for savoring it - you really know how to make a girl's day : )
Not long to wait, though, for my next Toni book, this time around. LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER comes out on May 27 : ) And there's a prequel short story e-book that will be for sale from Avon on May 13, for anyone who's interested. And, of course, more details can be found on my Toni website at www.ToniBlake.com : )
Arggghhh! I didn't come up topside yesterday and missed Gerry! Thanks for the delectable photos. I'm a huge Gerry fan. Tis the only instance I'll hand Captain Jack over to someone else.
Hi Lacey/Toni! Loved your chat with the PROs online recently. I get inspiration while showering, of all places. But of course, I've no place to jot those ideas down and try desperately to remember them until I can get to some paper. Naps help me too. Or driving someplace while listening to Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack. Talk about a muse!
How hard has it been for you to write under two names?
Which comes more naturally, writing under Toni or writing under Lacey?
How do you manage to set aside writing time while busy with family and other responsibilities in your life?
And last but not least, which pirate would you prefer? Captain Jack Sparrow or Will Turner? :-D
Hi Marnee Jo, and thanks for the comment : ) Yep, I do think, particularly when it comes to writing novels, creativity must be "harnessed."
I have a couple of close friend who I always say are "too creative for their own good." They are both just BUBBLING with one idea after another - rich, wonderful, amazing ideas - but their ideas come so fast that many of their projects seem to go unfinished or they end up with mostly lists of stuff they want to do without actually doing it. One of these friends has always seemed content this way, and I say good for her. The other, though, sometimes seems frustrated by having so much she'd like to do without being able to do it all. I will admit that I have felt very thankful that my creativy has been the type I seem able to control.
Which brings up a thought. Anyone ever heard the term "compulsion to closure"? Back when I had a day job, we were forced to read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" and when I read about the compulsion to closure in this book, I understood it immediately because I've always had it, very strongly. The compulsion to closure is the need to finish something, the need to reach closure on a project. Until I'd read about it, I'd never even realized that anyone could NOT have that, because it's always been a huge, unwavering part of my life - whatever I start, I finish. And I think having this PLUS creativity is a great combination. The creatvity gets you started, the compulsion to closure pushes you to finish.
Of course the question then becomes - can the compulsion to closure be learned or do you have to have it naturally? The book probably addressed this, but I don't remember ; ) But if you have the compulsion to closure, it's a big help in terms of getting stuff done - creative or not ; )
Marnee Jo, also enjoyed hearing that you get your ideas from TV and movies. I watch a LOT of TV - was just raised that way and as a creative person, I think it's a valid way to spend time - and I, too, will occasionally have something strike me that leads somehwere creatively. I guess I think that for the creative mind, ideas are potentially EVERYWHERE.
Welcome aboard Lacey/Toni!
In response to your question I think creativity is a God given talent. The more you use it, the more in tune to your creative self you become.To me, writing is like solving a mental puzzle. I view the storyline as the outline of the puzzle and plugging characters, conflict, emotion and angst into the appropriate places makes it all fit together.
I'm not a scrap book person, but I love to garden,and cook.
Do you have a favorite part of your books that you enjoy writing more than any other part? I love angst so I enjoy writing black moments. I find it interesting to hear what other writers look forward to in their writing process.
Thank you for being with us today:)
Oh, I sure hope the creativity comes back as kiddo gets older. Right now she's 8 and being a single mom, she keeps me more than busy. Plus, I just happened to go back to college right before falling into this writing idea. Yeah, my timing has always been a little off.
Kathy - I get ideas in the shower too. For me, I'm ALWAYS multi-tasking so when I'm doing something that is routine and the only thing I can do at that moment - shower, drive, sleep - those are the times my brain actually kicks in. When all the other distractions can't bother me.
Hellion, so glad to hear you're digging the nap idea : ) Really, ladies, as long as you take a creative issue to bed with you, it's work, I tell you : )
And you're the 2nd person who's said you get creative when driving. I still think that has to do with the brain being stimulated by different sights than just being in one place, like in front of your computer, etc. ; )
I'm trying to decide if I get creative when driving. If I do, it's probably not in practical ways. I ALWAYS listen to music when driving, and sometimes a song will remind me of something in the past - some person or event - and my only creativity here comes from thinking how else I might have handled a situation, or what I might do if the same situation occurred *now* ; ) So that's not a very PRACTICAL sort of creativity - and I even try to avoid it if I catch myself doing it since it feels kind of useless. So I envy those of you who can make driving time so useful : )
That said, this just hit me - there ARE occasions when a song will reveal something new to me, some tiny nuance, about the story I'm currently writing. And once, while driving back from the RWA conference in Atlanta (2006?) I heard a song for the first time and the words totally helped me solve a huge plot problem I was having on the story I was developing at the time. Unfortunately, my agent didn't like the story so it never saw the light of day, but at the time it felt quite victorious ; )
Oh, and that "compulsion to completion" thing is something I think I have. But my exhaustion gets in the way. LOL! This is where I need to imcorporate that nap idea.
I get a rush out of seeing something I've created out of nothing. I don't sew but last year I made a couple of quilt squares for a group project. I so enjoyed doing that. And when I do get some writing done, it feels like a little victory.
I guess for me it's like a challenge. If I say I'm going to do something then it would drive me nuts NOT to do it. Heaven forbid anyone ever be able to look at me and say, "I knew you'd never do that."
BTW - if anyone is interested in ordering Seven Nights of Sin, just click on the cover picture and it will take you straight to Amazon.
Hi Kathy! : ) First things first - Captain Jack, hands down! I'm a Johnny fan from way back, and I'll never forget the moment I heard he was doing Pirates of the Carribean - I thought, Johnny Depp dressed as a pirate, holy WOW! Two of my fave things meshed together : ) Which is to say - I love the pirate theme here. I've been a big pirate fan for many a year, and when Terri first invited me to blog with a bunch of pirate-writers, she pretty much had me at hello ; )
Now, back to business ; )
Interesting about the shower. I've heard water CAN make you creative - something about the movement/flow of it maybe? We need to find you some sort of waterproof paper and ink ; )
And I'm so glad you enjoyed the PRO bootcamp. I really enjoyed it, too, and I'm really gratified that people seemed to be taking a lot away from it.
Writing under two names has been ... at once fun and challenging. Kind of a conflicting answer, I know ; ) Actually, the writing part is pure fun. It's the keeping up with 2 careers that's challenging - I kinda have to do everything twice ; ) But I'm not complaining - I feel tres fortunate to be in the position to sell books as *one* person let alone two : )
The Toni books are the books of my heart, plain and simple. They generally contain a lot of emotion that is genuine to me (how I'd feel if I were in that situation) and despite the heavy doses of sex and passion, they also generally have a certain sweetness and a "morality" about them - or at least that's my hope - which is all pretty much true to who I am.
The Lacey books actually come easier to me than the Toni books, because while they are fully plotted with fully developed characters, etc., they're less complex and layered, and I generally begin them with one solid goal in mind: give the reader a satisfying and titillating erotic fantasy/adventure. So they go quicker and require less creative angst on my part - even though they're not quite as personally gratifying.
As for time issues, my husband is a workaholic and we don't have kids, so that part is pretty easy. I DO have some health issues that can get in the way, and my mother has some health problems that often require me to take her to appointments, etc., but otherwise, most of my time is my own and I'm very fortunate that way.
That said, in the last couple of years, the tricky part is finding time to write in between being my own secretary, accountant, and publicist ; ) There's just SO much to do to keep a couple of writing careers afloat these days and it's hard to know if you're doing *enough* ; ) I'm still working on finding the right balance for that. Part of me wishes I could just turn off the Internet entirely and write my books since that's what it's all about and what I've always wanted to do. But I DO need e-mail and I DO enjoy chatting with readers and other writers, and all of that IS always stimulating and informative, so it's hard to REALLY want to give it up ; ) But when push comes to shove, I just remind myself that I have deadlines and that I HAVE to meet them because people are WAITING on me and it's IMPORTANT ; ) And then I get down to work and don't let much distract me.
Lacey/Toni!!
Lisa asked the question that was really on my mind. I was curious to see which part of your novels you loved to write. So I'm going to ask, and hope no one beats me to it, where do you get your ideas? Where are you most inspired? Like when you wake up? In the shower? Driving? Vacuuming?
I've got to tell you that I'm a huge fan. I love both Lacey Alexander and Toni Blake. Is it difficult to be two seperate writers and still be yourself?
Thanks for coming aboard the ship!
Hi Lacey/Toni, so glad you decided to go sailing with the pirates today!
First off, I wanted to apologize for flubbing the name of your book in my last post with the Romance Vagabonds. I do know it was In Your Wildest Dreams (it is sitting on my bookshelf as I type!) and not Tempt Me Tonight that held our hot hero Jake!! I think I had TMT stuck in my head from a couple of previous posts.
Secondly, I love your Einstein theory. It sounds about right to me. I always thought it was just my ingenious way of putting myself to sleep... you know, kinda like telling myself a bedtime story... very interesting to realize Einstein had a whole theory about it.
Have to run for the day, but I'll be sure to check in later and catch up on all the fun!
Hiya Toni! Another fabulous blog. Sadly, I'm not much of a napper, though add me to the driving and showering camps (so inconvenient because there's no pen handy!).
As Lacey, you've been part of the wave of erotic romance that's become so popular. But you've branded yourself as a writer of "romantic erotica". Was this a conscious decision? And how do you pinpoint the differences?
These questions (and the answers) are so interesting. Have you gotten any negative backlash from the types of genres in which you've written? Many of my RWA chaptermates write Erotica or Erotic Romance and I find that some of them get very defensive of what they write. I'm thinking they probably have a reason for that. Have you run into situations where you've had to defend your writing?
Wow! Thanks for answering my questions. As always, you're such an inspiration.
I can only imagine how much time you have to devote on the business end. Have you developed a set schedule, setting aside writing time and the business side of writing during the day? One of my failings is I start playing on the Internet and before I know it, the hours are gone leaving me little to no writing time left. Do you have any suggestions on how to make better use of the time we do have?
Also, I second Terrio's question. Too often I hear the term, 'we write smut' in the romance industry. When writing erotic material, how do you defend that mentality?
Lisa said: The more you use it, the more in tune to your creative self you become.
I couldn't agree with this more, Lisa - very astute observation! It's almost like a muscle you massage, and creativity can become a dominating force in your life.
As for what parts of my books I enjoy writing most - I suppose it might be banter. I enjoy writing both the banter between the hero and heroine and also between the heroine and her friends. I also enjoy the moments where the sexual tension is building and unfolding, and I really like developing my characters' emotions. And this may sound odd, but I'm really at my happiest when I've written the book and then am going back through to polish it. That's when all the pressure is off - I know I have a book - and I can then just take the time to try and perfect it : )
Thanks for the warm welcome : )
terrio said: I guess for me it’s like a challenge. If I say I’m going to do something then it would drive me nuts NOT to do it. Heaven forbid anyone ever be able to look at me and say, “I knew you’d never do that.”
To which I reply: yes yes yes! I feel that way, too, and it's a great motivator : )
It sounds like you're in a VERY busy period of life right now, so I think it's darn commendable that you're writing at the same time you're doing everything else.
Oh, and thanks a ton for pointing out about the link to buy on the book cover : ) And thanks to Terri for putting it there!
Hi Sin, and thank you for the lovely welcome! I'm thrilled to hear you enjoy both types of my books - that's music to my ears : )
I usually get most of my totally new, fresh ideas when traveling. Or when "out and about." For instance, my next Lacey book with NAL is called THE BIKINI DIARIES (Feb 09) and the whole plot evolved last summer when I was on a beach vacation. I was thinking about how sometimes when you're at the beach you see some really perfect, beautiful girl in a bikini and how you can feel inferior to her if you let yourself, and you can also feel really ANGRY at yourself for feeling inferior ; ) And by the time I came home, I had a completely plotted book based on this starting idea.
And my upcoming Toni book, LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER was very much inspired by location - from a trip I took to the Canadian Rockies. I didn't come up with the story until later, but I remember at the time thinking - this is the most peaceful place I've ever been, and I think there must be a story somewhere in how I feel here.
Closer to home, my next Toni book, which I've just started (probably called RECKLESS SUMMER and probably coming out in summer 09) was inspired by a view across a lake at a local park my husband and I go to every few weeks in the summer. I sat there one day thinking about how looking across the lake into the woods on the other side always made me wonder what was IN those trees, made me want to go exploring. And from there, I decided what MIGHT be in those trees and the story was born.
So for me, it's very frequently about just seeing new things, new places.
I'm also strongly driven by motif and theme. By motif and theme I mean ... for instance, in TEMPT ME TONIGHT, the little dual defintions that started every chapter. In THE RED DIARY, the diary entries throughout the book. In IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS, the dreams throughout the book. I like to find a unifying factor that will make the book feel more structured and "big" and then I like to use that to really push the book forward if possible. In SEVEN NIGHTS OF SIN, that's about structuring the book around the 7 individual nights and using the various concepts of sin to frame it all. In LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER, the motif is "the written word" which appears not only in letters but in several other ways, and though I never say this in the book, my underlying hope is that the reader might feel and recognize the strength and power of the written word as they read this book.
Yeesh, I rambled. Sorry. That might be more than you wanted to know, but there it is anyway ; )
Irish Eyes - not to worry. A very tiny mistake and I don't even remember if I noticed it, but if I did, I'm sure I knew what you meant ; )
Also, glad you like the Einstein thing. I'm a BIG fan of Einstein and I like being able to take something from a massively genius scientist and realize I can apply it to my own life : )
And yep, I totally get what you mean about telling yourself a bedtime story. That's a brilliant way of putting it!!
As usual, my dear Lindsey, an excellent question : )
The labeling of what I do became necessary, at least in my own mind, when I realized people didn't easily understand the difference ; ) The erotica trend came with alot of confusion over what to expect from a book labeled, say, erotic romance. And I can tell you that almost every author has her own way of labeling her work, for various reasons, so mileage may vary ; )
For me, the waters were further muddied when Avon decided to put my Toni Blake "sexy romances" in the Red line, their erotica category. This really bothered me, not because I have any problem with erotica (as you all know ; ) ) but because I feared it would confuse readers and leave some disappointed.
Some of my fears were valid - I know in Chapters, the big Canadian bookstore chain, my Red books were shelved in the adult erotica section. Which means romance writers aren't finding them in their romance section. Which means lots less sales. I also got a few reviews in which the reviewers WERE disappointed that the books WEREN'T erotica and they seemed to judge the book by this fact. So I felt a little cheated there, since *I* never said they were erotica ; )
Mostly, though, I learned that readers don't pay that much attention to imprints or labeling, so that was a happy thing to discover : )
Still (I've digressed) when all this was going down, and when I found myself writing two types of books which I see as very different but the general public can confuse, (in fact, look at the covers for SEVEN NIGHTS OF SIN and LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER and you will see that they look like a very similar kind of book) I decided I needed to define them FOR MYSELF. (And for anyone who asked me what I thought on the matter - and I wrote an article for the RWR about the whole thing, too.)
My Lacey books, while being pretty hardcore erotica in my opinion, do have a heavy romantic element to them. What's happening in the book, no matter how extreme, is in some way connected to the developing romantic relationship. So I decided that "romantic erotica" was an apt description. The emphasis in these books is on the erotica, but they're also romantic.
My Toni books are very traditional romances at heart, but they DO have a lot of passion and a lot of hot sex that results. The core focus is on the romance, but they do have a heavy element of sensuality. So I have referred to these as "super sexy romances" or "erotic romances."
When I was at Warner, Beth deGuzman, senior editor there, started calling my books "super sexy romances" and it was right before the really HEAVY wave of erotic romance/erotica, so the word "erotic" wasn't quite the industry icon it is now ; ) For simplicity's sake, after everyone started using the word "erotic" so much in the genre, I started calling my Toni Blake books "erotic romance," but I really like "super-sexy romance" more, because a lot of people label what *I* call erotica as erotic romance, so I think the term erotic romance itself has taken on a life of it's own, a definition that goes beyond the literal, more to what has become "expected" from that term.
Yeesh - anyone confused yet? I've nearly confused myself ; ) But there you have it. The twisty, winding world of the terms used to describe the various kinds of sexually oriented books on the market today. I really said this all much more clearly in the RWR article - I promise ; )
I can see where the genre descriptions can get so confusing. I know readers who have never picked up any erotica or erotic romance often say they haven't because they don't know what they are going to get when they open the book. I wrote an Erotic Romance short over the winter and though it was pushing the line for me, I'm well aware it was very tame by most standards.
It's just difficult to put everything under one unbrella since Erotica seems to include everything from an adventurous monogomous couple exploring new territory in the bedroom (or out of it) to extreme situations where there could be a one to five person ratio involved. Man, that is hard to say in a nice PG-13 way. LOL!
Terrio - good question. I really *haven't* had any backlash that I can pinpoint. And I'll be honest - it crossed my mind early on that this could happen. I WAITED for it to happen. But in my personal experience, most people seem smart and sensible enough to take it for what it is - a form of fiction I chose to write to extend my career. And I will also say that, moreover, the POSITIVE response I've had to the Lacey books has been pretty overwhelming. More than I ever expected. I frequently get letters from women who tell me my Lacey books have improved their marriages. And wow - what a compliment! I mean, if my erotica can have a REAL, positive effect on someone's life, that rocks! : )
The only negativity I've encountered is the general feeling that some members of RWA are against erotic fiction. If anyone has seen the April RWR you'll see I couldn't stop myself from replying to a letter to the editor in which this came into play.
That said, it seems to me like a lot of erotica authors in RWA seem to feel RWA really IS "out to get them" or that they're being excluded in some way. I feel that, mostly, the negativity comes from those few people who feel the need to call us names in the RWR letters to the editor, and that, mostly, it shows ignorance and intolerance on the part of the people writing those letters.
The only thing that REALLY disappointed me was that RWA refused to add an erotic category to the RITAs. I feel that if women's fiction and inspirational romance have categories that erotica/erotic romance merits a category, too. Mainly because otherwise, all those books are put in the single title category, which ALREADY encompasses a lot of different types of books. And I'll be honest, there's no way a Lacey Alexander book can be held up against a book by someone like Susan Wiggs or Kristin Hannah. Those authors are aspiring to touch our hearts and move us in deep ways. Lacey Alexander is NOT attmpting to do that - MY goal is to titillate. So how can a Lacey Alexander book be fairly judged against the other books in that category?
And all THAT said, I remain a big fan of RWA and I think most everyone knows that, including RWA : ) We differ on that one point, but I still think RWA is THE best way for an aspiring author to learn about the business or for an established author to keep in touch with the community and industry. I attribute much of what I know to connections with RWA. And believe you me, no one was more surprised than me when my Toni Blake book, TEMPT ME TONIGHT, finalled in the RITAs a couple of weeks ago, in the very category I just discussed, Contemporary Single Title. So even though I still wish there was an erotica category, I'm pretty happy with the whole contest right now ; )
And overall, like I said, I've gotten far more positive feedback than negative. In all honesty, I am not sure I've EVER gotten any negative feedback on my Lacey work based on the stigma of writing erotica.
Kathy wrote: I can only imagine how much time you have to devote on the business end. Have you developed a set schedule, setting aside writing time and the business side of writing during the day? One of my failings is I start playing on the Internet and before I know it, the hours are gone leaving me little to no writing time left. Do you have any suggestions on how to make better use of the time we do have?
Kathy, I WISH I had suggestions ; ) I really am struggling with this myself. I hear some writers do set aside a time for one and a time for the other, sometimes even using different computers for each activity, but I'm not inclined to do that. I communicate frequently with my editors and agent, and I like that when they answer my message that it pops up in the bottom corner of my screen ; )
I AM trying to learn to put off answering e-mail that CAN be delayed without inconveniencing anyone. And although I enjoy MySpace, I've had to slow WAY down on my activities there. So I AM trying to look for things I can reduce my time on. And when I start writing for the day, I try not to let anything interrupt me or sidetrack me unless it's email that's quick or pertinent, time-wise.
Oh, and I do try to lump things together. Like, I knew I'd be blogging with you guys today, so I also squeezed in a phone call to my mom and am catching up on e-mails ; ) If I have a week busy with appointments or business calls, etc., I try to do administrative tasks that same week and get them out of the way so I can focus on writing when I have big chunks of uninterrupted time.
But so far, figuring this out is alluding me just a bit ; )
Kathy wrote: When writing erotic material, how do you defend that mentality?
Well, it all depends upon from where the judgment is coming ; )
For instance, when it's from women, and it's about the Lacey books, I would point out that my readers have let me know my books have left them feeling more sexually confident and aware and that they say the books have helped improved their marriages. No one can argue with that because it's my personal experience, a fact, not an opinion. When it's about a Toni book, I would probably say that, first, if they'd actually read one of the books, they'd know they're about a lot more than sex, and second, I might ask them why they think sex is dirty and explain that most people see it as an important part of a healthy, intimate relationship. I once had a reporter - a 70 year old man, by the by - ask me why I couldn't just close the bedroom door. I explained to him that to do that would imply that sex wasn't an important part of the relationship, when in fact it's when two people are most intimate, the most open, and that I felt it was just as important a part of the story as any other. I won him over, I'm happy to say, and he wrote a very nice article about me, even including that part.
When it comes from a man (by this, I mean a man at a booksigning or a party, etc.) - well, that's trickier. Men who are bold enough to come down on a woman for writing about sex have power issues, in my opinion ; ) So there might not be any defense that will make a bit of difference. But for fun, I would perhaps try to look sympathetic and say, "Oh, you don't like sex? I'm sorry to hear that."
The fact of the matter is this: Those of us who write about sex know why we do it at heart - it's about freedom and being bold enough to accept and recognize and celebrate the fact that we're sexual beings. And it's also often about the fact that sex IS important in a relationship. It's intimacy and it matters.
But when met with criticism, these kinds of arguments do not always flow easily off the tip of the tongue and may not convince anyone anyway. So if it's another woman, or if it's a reporter, I generally lean toward women's empowerment and most people just can't argue with that ; ) When it's some smarmy man at a booksigning (and I've had a few of those,) I feel I'll get more milage from being a bit of a smartass and trying to put him in his place. Really, I have NO patience for smarmy men who act superior over women who write about sex.
Whoops, rambled again ; )
Terrio said: It’s just difficult to put everything under one unbrella since Erotica seems to include everything from an adventurous monogomous couple exploring new territory in the bedroom (or out of it) to extreme situations where there could be a one to five person ratio involved.
And that's the exact problem, in a nutshell! : )
YAY TONI!
Great Blog--as usual.
I never knew that about Einstein and the spoon. But he's right, ideas do formulate at that land before wakefulness and slumber. I'm often to lazy to get up at that point and fall asleep and forget it.
I too envy all you plotters. I never know where I'm going. Often, I'll have a what if 'idea' and go from there. Then the story may twist according to research I'm doing (I write historical) or something I see and I find myself curious about and giving my own interpretation to.
And what a great description of how the word erotic has changed. I didn't realize it was only up here that your Red books were shelved with erotic, actually that just annoys me, though they are sexy, I'm also a hardcore erotic reader, and your books have so much more plot than the old erotic I read (Nin, Sade, Pearl, Cleland, so on and so forth) That's an uneducated sales/marketing team at chapters dealing with the best sellers--romance. And might I add, Erotica is usually no where near the romance section in a chapters. Sorry my rant done.
Okay this is getting to long. going to write more in a bit...lol
You hit that problem with RWA right on the head. When I say the ladies in my chapter are defensive, that defense does seem to be aimed at RWA. I know many are e-pubbed which is a whole different topic on its own. I suppose there is less negativity outside the industry than there is in it. At least in my limited experience.
I love the idea of putting a man in his place when he gets smarmy. Or a woman for that matter. There's nothing worse than an argument or loaded question that stems from ignorance.
I notice you mention you watch lots of television and you were just raised that way. I was raised the same way and now I worry about my daughter. She likes to read and write but she LOVES to watch television and movies. Do you think this deminishes her creativity since it's all right there for her or do you think it could foster it more?
Tiff - that's funny because I've noticed here they practically mix the two together. You'd think they would at least shelve them next to each other. Makes you wonder if they even know what the books are they are putting on their shelves.
Toni - you mentioned that your publisher labeled your books one way that you didn't necessarily agree with. Did you just gain more of a say as your books sold and you became more successful? Or did they make that label distinction without asking you at all?
And I was referring to your Toni books that are in the erotic section, not the Lacey.
And I have to say I agree, RWA does need to recognize erotica. I wished they had a Golden Heart Category. It'll happen, these things take time. And I've noticed more chapters are including erotic in their contest categories. :) Patience, right?
I know Terri! Like I said, I'm sure chapters is hiring closet romance readers. They always have a staff recommends, or Heather (owner) recommends shelf. I've yet to see a romance make the list.
And it really shows their ignorance, because romance sells better than any other genre, fantasy/sci-fi is second--I read both these genre-fictions and they have the smallest section in the bookstore. You've been in a chapters, the romance section is a joke!
And let me tell you, over the years, I've noticed more people perusing the shelves in romance than in fiction :)
Hey Tiffany! Good to "see" you - as always, even if it's only in blogland ; )
Regarding the plotting thing, I didn't start out being a plotter, but it evolved over time. I realized I kept writing myself into corners or ending up with stories that weren't cohesive, so I started plotting ahead. When I read really great books by people who say they don't plot ahead, I am awed - since I just don't know how you non-plotters do it, but more power to ya, I say : )
And yep, as Terrio already said, down here, the romance section has become completely enmeshed with all the erotica. If I were an unsuspecting reader, I really would have very little idea of what I was getting - especially when you consider, for instance, how much alike my current Lacey and Toni covers look. It's kind of a free for all ; )
And as for losing the stuff you think of in that drifting-off state, I really do believe that you retain what you're supposed to : ) I used to have this notion, years ago, that a book was "pre-destined", that it was meant to be written in exactly a certain way and that if I didn't figure out the way I was messing it up. But over time I've realized that there is no "divine plan" for a book - it's what I write when I write it, and my only job is to make sure I think it's as good as I can make it : )
You're like the most well-adjusted writer I've seen. LOL! You seemed to have extricated your internal editor and you like revisions. Which I'm thinking has a great deal to do with how prolific you are.
Do you have CPs that you run the stories by or do you pretty much keep it between you and your editor?
Terrio - I'm glad it's okay that I brought RWA into the equation there. I hesitated in a way, but then I thought - eh, I'm a tell it like it is sorta girl, so I'm gonna call it as I see it ; ) Bearing in mind, though, that my point of view might not be everyone's ; )
About TV, you know, there's a stigma about it. People who think I'm smart are generally surprised to find I watch so much TV. And people who think I'm a hack romance writer act like the TV-thing fits in perfectly with their concept of me. (No, no one has called me a hack romance writer to my face, but you know, you occasionally meet people who just take a negative view of you for whatever reason and you can tell how they percieve you.) So it has always seemed to me that saying you watch a lot of TV implies you're not very bright or you're not very cultural or you should be doing something different - and man, I HATE that. Because I'm a smart chick and I ADORE TV! (That's right, I said it, I adore TV! ; ) )
I think you can learn a TON from TV - an absolute TON. As a lifelong TV watcher I can tell you that from sit-coms I've learned humor and plotting, from soap operas I've learned dialogue and story twists, from reality TV I learn character study and development - plus I learn about the world through watching PBS and the History Channel and The Discovery Channel. And heck, I learn how to dress from watching What Not to Wear : )
Right now I am deeply enmeshed in the character study of Dexter, am learning AMAZING facts on The Universe, and am looking forward to the return of Moonlight, which had some really admirably intense emotional scenes. American Idol leaves me in awe about how these kids function so well in the spotlight. Dancing with the Stars leaves me amazed at how people will challenge themselves and be bold enough to do it on national TV. And I'm increasingly disappointed in the all-over-the-place storytelling in a show I originally loved - Men in Trees.
As a writer, I analyze everything that I see on TV and it makes it twice the fun. But when I'm NOT in that mode, TV is ... my friend ; ) Sound sad? Maybe ; ) But when I'm sick or when I'm tired or if I'm depressed about something, I can turn on the TV and relax and be taken away from whatever ails me.
Which is my really long-winded way of saying - no, I don't think it's harmful to watch too much TV - TV is full of education and creativity-promoting aspects if you pay attention and absorb it the right way. I'm QUITE sure that watching stories on television as a kid is much of what made me want to become a writer and tell stories of my own that would make people laugh or cry.
That said, I now understand why my grandma would yell at us for watching TV all the time when it was a sunny day and would sometimes DEMAND that we go out and play. I'm a Libra and I believe in a well-balanced life : ) So I don't recommend sitting on the couch and watching TV ALL day EVERY day. But I DO love TV and I think the DVR (next to the TV) is the greatest invention ever : )
OMG, Toni we're watching all the same things. LOL! And I love to see how they make the candy on the Food Network. Though I can't watch those shows on the Travel Channel where that guy eats horrible things. Just yesterday we learned all about ancient Egypt on the Discovery Channel. I think that's the channel we were watching anyway.
I figure as long as the shows I let kiddo watch teach her something whether about dealing with adversity, loyalty, friendship, or even how NOT to act, then we're good. And the shows are better today than what we had growing up. What did we learn from Tom & Jerry? Seriously! I watch this now and I cringe that we were subjected to the violence in there. LOL!
Terrio wrote: Toni - you mentioned that your publisher labeled your books one way that you didn’t necessarily agree with. Did you just gain more of a say as your books sold and you became more successful? Or did they make that label distinction without asking you at all?
Well, we had discussions early on in which I expressed my concerns about my Toni books being marketed as erotica, but I also recognized the opportunity it afforded me to launch the line - and that DID get me quite a bit of extra publicity, including being generously quoted in an article in Publishers Weekly and stuff like that.
The way it stands now is that all involved feel I benefited from that but that all involved also seem to agree that the books may belong in the mass market contemporary program : ) It's not that I have any particular say - it's just the way the market is leaning for books like mine.
A lot of the initial craze over trade a few years ago seems to be waning a bit. So even though mass market has problems of its own, I'm still very happy to be put into the Avon contemporary line now and am hoping it will allow me to reach new readers.
Terrio said: You’re like the most well-adjusted writer I’ve seen. LOL! You seemed to have extricated your internal editor and you like revisions. Which I’m thinking has a great deal to do with how prolific you are.
Do you have CPs that you run the stories by or do you pretty much keep it between you and your editor?
Well golly shucks, thank you very much : )
About the internal editor - I will be honest, I am a lot more confident at the keyboard when things are going well ; ) I suppose that sounds obvious and makes sense, but when my agent and editors are happy and my readers seem happy, that says to me: keep doing what you're doing, keep trusting yourself. There have been times in my career where I DIDN'T trust myself and the internal editor DID sit on my shoulder questioning my every move and decision. So when people are liking what you're doing, that takes a lot of the pressure off, so I just feel very fortunate that right now people are liking what I'm doing ; )
And I should say, I only like revisions when they're my own ; ) I DETEST revisions that aren't my idea and that I don't agree with. Another way I am VERY fortunate right now (knock on wood) is that Avon and NAL have never asked me to revise anything I've sent them. So that's a HUGE blessing. It makes me want to be a perfectionist up front, but I think that's good, too, since I don't believe in ever turning anything in that isn't the absolute best you can make it.
But when I say I enjoy revising - I mean I enjoy reading back over my book and polishing it up and tightening or expanding. It's like - putting the final touches on a painting - but it's not really like, say, making major changes in the picture ; )
As for critiquing, I met with a critique group for many years - but they didn't write romance. It was four people - 2 women, 2 men. The other woman wrote screenplays. One of the guys wrote science fiction, the other guy wrote mainstream stuff. It was a great mix, really. But then the other woman moved away (she's actually a very close friend still, though, and is the person who originally suggested I write romance) and I continued to meet with the guys until a point a few years ago when we all just realized we'd learned all we could from each other.
Since then, I have a treasured first reader. I always mention her in my book acknowledgements and TMT was dedicated to her. She is a dear and very close friend and she undersands romance novels to a tee from having read them for 20 years and being a very intelligent person : ) So she reads my work and tells me what's wrong with it, and I always agree, and I fix it. And it's an AMAZING situation for me, which I cherish, since she so GETS my work but at the same time can find the flaws in it so well.
I should also mention that this is for the Toni books. Lacey books = no critiquing of any kind. I just write 'em and send 'em in ; )
Hey Terrio - glad to hear we're fans of the same shows! I only watch Travel Channel when it's a straight travel show about someplace that interests me - I don't want to watch anyone eat anything gross, either - I can get that on Survivor ; )
And hey gang - a quick note - I need to step away for about an hour - then I'll be back for a couple of hours and then I have to leave for a dinner date.
But if I have to leave before the conversation is through, rest assured I will check in tomorrow morning and reply to anything that comes in after I'm gone : )
And I apologize for having to leave early, but I think you'll all forgive me when I tell you where I'm going: my longtime RWA conference roommate is a GH finalist, and our travel companion won a GH last year and gets to present her category this year, so since I'm a RITA finalist, we're a very excited little group. But so far, we've only been excited on e-mail and the phone, and felt we should get together and celebrate. PLUS, I've bought a RITA dress and I need their opinions before I totally commit : )
Anyway, back in an hour or so : )
So that's the trick. Publish and sell and the internal editor can take a hike. I need to remember that. LOL!
About writing the Lacey books, do you ever get to *another* sex scene and struggle to find an original way to go about it? I suppose this is where that creativity really comes into play. *g*
OH, we can forgive that! LOL! Lots of squeeing and plenty of toasts today. And congrats to all of you.
Hey Terri - about sex scenes, yes and no : ) Since, between the 2 types of books, I've written a LOT of sex scenes in my day, I will admit there are times when I get tired of writing sex. But this happens more with the Lacey books than the Toni books. With the Lacey books, I'm sure it has something to do with the amount of sex in the book period ; ) But with the Toni books, I try to get around the issue by coming at it with emotion. What I mean by that is that when writing a Toni book, each sex scene really does feel different to me than in previous books because I'm so into the characters' heads. So I try to truly see the whole thing as if I were that person - have experienced what they've experienced, are in the exact same moment of life as they are. And since each character and story are different, that really does allow me to see - and write about - the sex differntly, too. Or at least I hope it does ; )
Thanks for all your insight and congrats on your Rita final, Lacey/Toni! Have a wonderful time tonight.
Aw, thank you, Kathy! And thank you, too, Terri - and I'll be sure to pass on your congrats to my roommate - her name is Jackie Floyd, by the way, in case you guys want to cheer for her on awards night : )
Oh, I have a quick question. So, when can you send Jake to my house? I've been waiting for him to show up at my door but I must say I'm getting a bit impatient.
And I hope you don't take this the wrong way but In Your Wildest Dreams is the one time I didn't want the heroine to have the hero. LOL! I've read hundreds (if not more) heroes and Jake is just perfect. Now, when can I expect him?
Terrio - I keep thinking he'll show up at my house, too, but he never does. I've pondered this and I think it might have something to do with him being fictional and all ; )
Seriously, though, that is tres flattering! I'm quite honored to hear that Jake rates SO highly with you. I will admit that, although I go through that thing when I finish a book where I miss spending time with the characters, with Jake, I missed him worse than usual. ; )
I think maybe that's one reason I like that polishing-the-manuscript part so much. I get to revisit them right away : )
Well, I feel like I sort of squelched the happy flow of comments by announcing I had to leave in a couple of hours, so my heart felt apologies for that - I didn't intend to bring a halt to the discussion in any way. However, "in a couple of hours" is officially now, so I must sign off.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the pirates for inviting me to blog - it's been a blast, and I'm so gratified by the great discussion we've had today. Sorry I have to sign off so early, and as promised, I will very gladly check back in here tomorrow morning, so if anyone has any more comments or questions, feel free to let 'em fly : )
Thank you all so much for your support - this has truly been great fun, and I look forward to coming back in June when LETTERS TO A SECRET LOVER is out : ) Pirates rock!
Thank YOU, Toni, for coming out to play with us today. I had to leave work so I was away for a while. Here's to lots more books on the shelf and can't wait for your next visit on June 2nd to our little ship.
Everyone mark your calendars and don't forget to click the cover of Seven Nights of Sin to order your copy today!
Wow, what a wealth of information you've shared with us today. I have to say that I find all your advice and experiences extremely helpful. I am also so happy to add another author to my TBR list!
You pirates sure know how to have a great moving party!
Hey ladies, just checking back in as promised : )
Hello, Santas, and thanks for your very kind comment : ) I'm so glad you found the stuff I have to say helpful : ) And HUGE thanks for adding me to your TBR list! : )
And thank you all again for the great discussion!
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