Writer's Studio Interview: Megan Kelly and the Boy Next Door
*cued music from The Actor’s Studio, camera zooms in on Hellion, a stunning redhead (clearly a pirate due to her magnificent hat) and Megan Kelly, a petite and pretty brunette, who is sitting across from Hellion. A cover board of Megan’s new book cover is standing on an easel next to her: The Fake Fiancée*
Hellion: Hello, Megan! Long time, no see. *turns to audiences* Dear viewers, Megan is one of my fellow members of the MORWA Chapter in St. Louis. She heads the Critique Group, called CORE, and used to run two separate groups: one on Tuesday and one on Saturday. Very crazy, in my opinion. I mean, working. Megan is very brave and very persistent; and she has also very graciously agreed to be interviewed today. Everyone, please welcome Megan Kelly!
Crew: *cheering and whistling; Sin rushes over and offers Megan some grog which she happily accepts*
Hellion: Okay, let’s get started! First question, Megan, how did you get assigned into that role (with CORE), and what are your favorite parts of the job?
Megan: I had attended from the first and saw the value of getting feedback. I was a contest junkie until I sold and probably will be in the published contests now. When the moderator decided to jump ship, I was nearest the gangplank.
Hellion: I know how that can happen.
Megan: It was either volunteer or be pushed overboard, too. So I volunteered. *laughs* I love when someone reads their work and it's stronger than her earlier writing. Then I know we're doing good. Also it's a kick when one of us sells (me, Kimberly Killion, Annmarie McKenna, and Mary Paine in the past two years) or finals in a contest from something we all critiqued.
Hellion: Wow! A lot of familiar names! What a great group! How important is it, do you think, to be a part of your local chapter? I know a lot of fledgling writers aren’t even a member of RWA. How valuable do you think the chapter meetings (and CORE groups) are?
Megan: I've received so much from my chapter. I don't think I'd be published without them. Not only does MoRWA offer monthly programs, but the support of my chaptermates has been invaluable. Perhaps you don't know this (because I hid it pretty well), but for a good six years, I landed my writing ship on a sandbar, so to speak. Block, hiatus, drinking binge--call it what you will, but they were dark days. If I had quit attending meetings, I wouldn't have gotten back to writing. So a good group is very important, whether it's RWA or not.
Hellion: Mates are definitely important! A support group is indispensable.
Megan: Attending conferences put on by RWA National and other chapters has helped me learn, too, as has feedback from their contests. As for a critique group or partner, I think it's vital. My writing is stronger due to what I get from my CP and CORE. I learn from feedback when I read my own work, of course, but critiquing someone else's work means I better know what I'm talking about. Listening to other members who find different aspects in someone's work helps me make my work stronger. It transfers to my writing, but it's a mysterious process I can't explain.
Hellion: *grins* A lot of life is a mystery. How long have you been writing? (How long did it take you to publish?) And most importantly, what’s your Call Story? We love Call Stories. Do you remember when you got The Call?
Megan: Do I remember!? How long can the answer be? Okay, first: I started writing seriously in 1994. I was, like, twelve. *coughs* I entered a contest, pitched to an editor, sent off the ms. Got back the ms. *wink* I got THE CALL in 2007. However, there's that "hiatus" on the sandbar I took. During those six years, I didn't finish anything.
Hellion: That sounds familiar.
Megan: I started two stories but only got into "the sagging middle" of each before setting them aside. I worked on this and that, but I'd lost the belief I'd sell. The characters stopped walking around in my head. One day, for no reason I can pinpoint, they came back. Once again, I was making up stories for strangers I'd see on the street (axe murderer, bank exec, bride-to-be, pirate). The joy was back. I still didn't believe I'd SELL, but I wanted to write again.
Hellion: Been there, done that.
Megan: So... in June of 2006, my invaluable CP, Carol, showed me the Romantic Times magazine article where the Harlequin American line put out the call for mss from new authors. I had 72 pages of a book done and a synopsis I'd written for contests, so I sent a partial. Six weeks later, I got a request for the full. Of course, I hadn't touched it in those six weeks because I wasn't going to sell. I couldn't decide whether to be thrilled or scared spitless.
Hellion: Spitless.
Megan: *nodding* I set a deadline of six weeks, said goodbye to my family and barricaded myself in my office in the basement. Six weeks to the day, I mailed the finished ms, with much thanks to Carol! Four months later, March 1, 2007, I was actually working in my office, with my printer running, and the washer and dryer chugging several feet away. Didn't hear the phone ring upstairs. I went up for a break (more chocolate) and saw the message light flashing. Kathleen Scheibling, Sr. Ed. at Harlequin American, wanted to talk to me about my ms. Now, I'd had a call before, where the senior editor said right away, "this isn't the call you're hoping for." So I tried not to get excited that Kathleen's was THE CALL I was hoping for. But who could possibly NOT hope? 
Hellion: *laughing* Clearly you can’t.
Megan: Exactly. Missing the first call was great for me, actually, because I had time to breathe; I found my printout of "What to Do When You Get The Call" and took time to read it over and make a few notes of pertinent questions (advance, payout, royalty), and I could walk off a little excited energy around the house. So…I called Toronto and got Kathleen's voice mail since she was away from her desk. [Are you freaking kidding me!?] I left a message then called my DH on my cell phone. He tried to talk me down. The house phone rang and Kathleen wanted to buy my book. She'd been about to leave for the day and possibly the entire weekend (this was a Thursday) due to a blizzard blanketing the city. But we got this done first and I asked her to drive VERY carefully. *laughs* That night we were celebrating my mother in law's birthday, so we had cake in the house!!
Hellion: *LOL* Your poor hubby! So he was the first one you told after The Call?
Megan: Yes. He's been my biggest fan and most solid supporter. I know women who no longer write because their husbands didn't support them. So I realize how lucky I am. Then I called Carol.
Hellion: Good husbands are hard to find. He sounds like a great guy. I’m sure he likes the research too. *grins* You write under a pen name. How did you come to choose your pen name, and why did you decide to go with a pen name to publish?
Megan: When my kids were toddlers, I told the mother of one of their playmates that I write romance. Suddenly my calls regarding playdates don't get returned, she avoided me totally, and even the calls I made to her as a customer for her business met with silence. Fortunately, the kids were too young to know what was going on, but I decided then my writing would never hurt my children. Also, I'd joined RWA and heard of writers being stalked. So a pen name made sense. I picked Megan because it sounds normal like me, and I was named for my Aunt Margaret, anyway. I've always liked the name Kelly, and it's in the middle of the alphabet so hopefully readers could find me at a bookstore or library without crawling on the floor.
Hellion: Wow, are you kidding? What a wench. That’s so not cool. I can see the definite highlights of having a pen name. Okay, what’s your favorite movie?
Megan: Wow, you’re still completely random.
Hellion: Yep, still am. *shoots the undead monkey* Part of my charm. *monkey starts eating banana again*
Megan: Uh, do I get shot, too, if I fail to mention Pirates of the Caribbean first? Gotta love the adventure and romance and hot guys. Also Field of Dreams, The Wizard of Oz, and Pride and Prejudice (preferably the mini-series with Colin Firth).
Hellion: Good (and correct) answers! And Colin Firth is the only real Mr. Darcy. Just saying. Okay, your newest book, The Fake Fiancée is out this month. Can you tell us more about it?
Megan: Joe Riley needs to get his matchmaking mom off his back, and "enlists the help of" (ie, blackmails) Lisa, a mom who needs money for a special program for her misbehaving son. Lisa doesn't trust easily since her ex ran off with all their money and a bimbette from his office. Joe falls in love with Lisa, but it's a rocky road. He has to make up for their bad beginning and figure out how to father her two kids.
Hellion: A blackmailer! Sounds like my kind of fellow! Joe definitely had his work cut out for him to pave the road back to heroic, then. Are you working on anything new now?
Megan: I'm currently writing a spin-off of The Fake Fiancee, featuring Joe's business partner, Dylan Ross. He's a "fixer," who gets tangled up with Tara--who doesn't want him "fixing" her life, thank you very much. They're a lot of fun to write. This story features Dylan's brother, Adam, and his eight children, which I hope will be my fourth book, so I'm having a blast.
Hellion: That does sound like a lot of fun. I love Mr. Fixer—that would be a lot of fun to write! What’s your favorite type of hero to create?
Megan: I love to write about the guy next door. He's more real to me than billionaires, at least in my neighborhood. He's a strong individual who respects a woman and is supportive without fear of losing any masculinity points. He has a sense of humor, and of course is always terrific looking.
Hellion: Terrific looking is definitely a must-have. How do you write the family dynamic so well?
Megan: I'm not sure how to write without a family in the story. Marrying the Boss didn't have kids, which was a total departure for me. Then all of a sudden, the characters' parents start taking over scenes! I just went along for the ride. As you might remember, Hellion, I have two children. I'm the fifth-born in my family, as is my husband, so we have lots of "dynamic" things going on.
Hellion: Wow, that’s a lot of siblings…and cousins! I bet you have entertaining family reunions and dinners. Okay, time for some more random questions.
Megan: Again? You’re not going to threaten to shoot me again, are you?
Hellion: I don’t think so, but no promises. What’s your biggest pet peeve? If you were in Bed, Bath, and Beyond with an unlimited budget, what one item would be on your must-have list and why? And what’s your favorite flavor of Crystal Lite?
Megan: I have lots of pet peeves. Rude people would be my current number one. I don't shop in BB&B, so I don't know what they carry. I'd love to have a hot tub, though, if you're thinking of my birthday present. Thanks!! Does there have to be a reason? Sheer relaxation. I like raspberry lemonade Crystal Lite, a pitcherful of which we keep in the fridge at all times. But I mostly live on versions of Diet Coke--caffeine free for after 2 pm and Vanilla Zero for the early part of the day, or if I need a caffeine boost.
Hellion: Caffeine is almost better than rum. Almost. Okay, final question, then I’ll turn this over to the crew to ask you questions: What’s the best piece of writing advice that’s worked for you?
Megan: "Never, never, never quit." It's really from Winston Churchill, so I'll give you a writer's quote, this one from Nora Roberts: "I can revise anything but a blank page."
Hellion: I think I like Churchill’s better. But leave me to be perverse! Okay, crew, come talk with us! What questions do you have Megan? What is your favorite boy-next-door type of story? And do you think it’s possible to be the boy-next-door and insanely rich?
Books by the Crew
88 comments:
BTW, I'll be selecting a winner (randomly, of course, in keeping with Hellion's questions!) to receive one of my books of his/her choosing.
Woo-hoo!!! Megan's in the house...er...on the ship!!!
Just had to pop over and have a drink with you gals again. *gulp*
Megan is the 'poo'. Ya'll have to pick up her books. I'm into the second one right now and she writes with such wit it's hard to put them down.
Great interview!
My favorite boy-next-door story...well...that's a toughy since I like historicals the 'boy' next door needs to live in a castle, wear a cross-barred skirt, and have a tasty wee backside. *wiggles brows*
Hey, Hellion, pass the rum and add a double shot of caffeine in it. It's damn early on the port side of this ship. ;c)
This site just keeps getting better and better. I love the random questions and the undead monkey. Megan, I'm a Margaret. There are few of us left. Your books sound great. What's the word count for that line? I keep thinking if I wrote category I wouldn't panic when I reached the 60s and realized I still have a long way to go. I'm so glad you didn't give up!
Hey, Kim, thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you're enjoying my books. :)
Maggie, Thanks! I couldn't give up--those stories had to come out even if I was the only one to ever read them. Now it's such a RUSH to think others are having fun with them too! As for word count, Americans run 55-60K. All the guidelines (which are like rules, LOL) are on eHarlequin.com so if you find a line within H/Silhouette you think your work sounds like, go there. Good luck with your writing.
Megan said:
"I love to write about the guy next door. He’s more real to me than billionaires, at least in my neighborhood. He’s a strong individual who respects a woman and is supportive without fear of losing any masculinity points. He has a sense of humor, and of course is always terrific looking."
*jumping up and down*
These are the guys I love to write. And I get flack for it all the time! You're now my new hero. LOL!
Oh, I should probably say hello. HELLO! Bo'sun here and I'm so excited to have you aboard today. These stories sound right up my alley. I've considered more than once aiming for Harlequin. But I have to admit, some of the titles drive me nuts. However, this line seems to be normal in that regard. I shall be checking these out.
When you say you didn't finish anything for six years, I just about died. I'm in that boat only I'm on just under two years. I'm always writing something, only about 90% of the time it has nothing to do with my WIP. How do you find time to juggle a family, the writing, the critting and everything else daily life requires? And how long does it take you to typically write a story? Also (sorry for all the Q's) do you run book to book with Harlequin or are they two or three book deals at a time?
Welcome aboard, Megan!!
Congrats about your new release.
I just finished my first draft and I'm now moving towards revisions. Do you have any advice about the revision process?
Woot!! Hello, Megan! I wanted to thank you again for interviewing with a bunch of pirates!
As you guys can tell from all the work she does at her local chapter, she's a great sport. And what a smark aleck! She's like a displaced Brit...but that's only once she knows you really well, or in the case of meeting me, five minutes.
I'm loving the boy-next-door right now (Sweet Home Alabama, anyone?), but I'm hoping he has an Irish accent and plays in pubs...and has a couple strategic tattoos. So I might have to move to Ireland to find my ideal boy next door, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice!
Kim! Woot!--what are you doing up at 3:46 in the morning? Did you fall asleep with the rum cask again?
Hey, Bo'sun, good to see you. My eyes are watering from the sun on the horizon, not your many questions! *grin* Okay, here goes. If you read the different types of H/S books and find one your writing resembles AND you like category books, I'd say go for it! The titles can make a person cringe. I didn't pick either of mine, BTW, and cannot believe the number of people who love THE FAKE FIANCEE title. *shakes head* That's marketing, so I don't worry about it. Because I love the man-next-door and writing about families, I'm at American and loving it. They start you out with one book at a time. I guess if I submitted a series, they might go for a 2 book deal, but frankly I don't want the pressure! My current wip features a character from THE FAKE FIANCEE, as does the next one I have planned. But I submitted a proposal for only the first one. If I had more done on both (basically if I'd waited to submit the proposal), I might have suggested the series thing to get the release dates close together. See next post.
Back again. Bo'sun, I forgot to say don't take flak from anyone about your writing! There's NO way I'd ever write a sheik, for instance, so if the man-next-door is your cup of run, drink up! The only thing I can say about your two year dry spell is Keep Writing! You won't get through the wall by standing behind it wishing it would disappear. I have NO idea why the "people" reappeared in my head. I was so far gone, I didn't realize they'd disappeared until the returned. My dh and kids commented on the difference in my personality--which, believe me, is major. More on them later. I'm not sure I have a "typically" when it comes to finishing a ms. If you're only counting real writing time, about two to three months. I tell about barring the door to my office to finish MARRYING THE BOSS after I'd set a 6 week deadline. I made it, including polishing, thanks in large part to my CP. The first 72 pages I'd already had done, however, took a looong time. MTB started as a different story with two brothers vying for the company. I pitched it in 1999. *runs off to find rum*
Wow, it started in '99 and sold in '07. I know that should sound daunting but it actually makes me feel better. My WIP has gone through so many changes already. How many finished MS did you have by the time you sold? Did you shoot for any other publishers or dabble in any other genres?
What has surprised you most since getting published?
*gulping* Sorry 'bout that. As for my current wip, I started thinking about it in August, but set it aside because I had NO idea what to write (I was planning to write another story and Dylan said, no, me first, which Totally threw me--I didn't know he was getting a story!). I write in fits and spurts and am MUCH better with a deadline. Since I'll meet with my editor at the end of the month at the RWA conference, I had a deadline. Now I'm more than halfway through the story, and I've told her it will be done in August, despite the conference and a family vacation. I guess my advice is see if deadlines work for you. Enter a contest (even though you'll have to follow some rules). Sign up for a conference and editor appointment where you'll have to pitch your work and have it ready to send if requested. Deadlines are wondrous things!
Deadlines? *gulp* As the queen of procrastination, I'm not sure how that would work. I gave myself the deadline of entering the GH this year. It's not looking good. I think I need someone else to assign me a deadline. I'll have to think about this.
Hey, Captain, I'm not the only smart-aleck aboard!
I didn't have that many mss completed, Bo'sun. Block, remember? I did have some good starts which finaled in contests (Maggie, Emily, Molly, TARA) and/or got good feedback. I pitched to an editor who only started listening to me (actually sat up and took notes!)when I mentioned those finals. MTB was the first ms I finished, which brought the number to three, I think. TFF was about three chapters from done, but I couldn't complete it!! SO frustrating. I continuted to pitch to H/S because that's what I write. There aren't other category houses in print, and I'm not computer friendly enough to try to sell to epubs.
*shaking head* Bo'sun, Bo'sun, Bo'sun. I'm sorry, but you are NOT the queen! I'll let you know when I'm ready to hand off my tiara. The GH is a good deadline because you have to have the whole thing done. You now have a deadline. Three and a half months. If you're starting from scratch, that's still plenty of time. Put your fingers on the keyboard, matey.
I have about 85 pages of a full length contemp now. I could get it done in that time, I suppose. And we'll have to share that tiara. Though if we bring the Captains tendency to NEVER get pictures developed, it'll be a threeway race.
So, pantser or plotter? I've talked to pantsers who say it's much harder to stay that way once pubbed and on tight deadlines.
Okay, back to questions. I think this is the last of Bo'sun's first set. *winks* Family and writing time. *setting up soap box* First, I can't find time to write. It isn't as though there's a couple hours tucked under the couch with the dust bunnies. I have to carve it out. Which means sacrificing something else. Last weekend, I did two signings, visited two bookstores to sign stock, shopped for conference duds (ugh), and read two books. Guess what got sacrificed--writing. I started reading another book yesterday since I had to take my mom to the doctor. Now I'm feeling "filled up" for a while, so even though the new reading book is calling, I'll be writing for the rest of today. Reading will wait until I'm brain-dead and can't write anymore. So figure out what you don't NEED. Use your vices (movies, reading, TV, long swims in the ocean, rum) for rewards when your writing is done. Discipline is hard for us procrastinators. We need motivation. When I needed to finish MTB after I got the request for the complete ms, I put ALL the chocolate in my office. I got a piece for going down and turning on my computer. I got a piece whenever I felt I needed one while I was writing. Darned book got finished.
Oh jeez, I forgot to mention my family! I never, never, never sacrifice my kids. My dh might have a few gripes, but I married a great guy, so he's strong enough to live through a little neglect. A LITTLE, mind you. The trick, if there is one, to having a family and writing is to write when they don't need you. I'm a night owl, so I've always been more creative then. I do a lot of writing after 10pm. Annmarie McKenna (an awesome erotica author, btw) can write on her laptop with her family around. Kimberly Killion writes in the wee hours of the morning. Find out what works best for you. If your dh or kids can't deal with you having a private hour or two, train them! There are times they don't need you, trust me. I doubt my kids would say I'm ever "not there" for them. Although last year they had to wait to discuss "Heroes" until I caught up to it in October because of my deadlines.
Pantser! I cannot plot a book. I tried once, and the story bored me so much I couldn't finish it. Yeah, life would be easier now if I could plot. I turned in my book proposal last week, which includes a synopsis. I know what happens in the first half of the book; for the rest, I'm only guessing. I have some ideas for scenes I haven't written yet so I put them in the synopsis. I'm not sure if they'll happen. In my synopsis for MTB, I mentioned the main characters having sex. In the book, they never got along well enough to do the deed. *shrugs* I never know till it's typed. That makes the story so much fun. But not easy.
Okay, Bo'sun, I'll share the Procrastination tiara with you and Hellion. There are so many trying to usurp my throne! Still, if I can set a deadline like I have and spend all day reading or online, then I'm feeling pretty secure on my royal seat.
Since you have 85 pages and are shooting for long contemp, I'm sure you can do it. Now YOU set your mind to it. Figure out what you do during the 24 hours of a day. I stated I write best at night. When I needed to complete MTB, I forced myself to my office at all hours. I figured if I could get it on paper/screen, I could fix it later. (See the Nora comment in my interview.) That freed me up to write garbage--but it turned out, not a lot of it was awful. I used my cp as my editor, and frankly wrote so "out of brain" I'm still not sure if the story is any good.
Man, you're pushy. LOL! My biggest obstacle in the television. If it's on, even if I can't find anything to watch, I'll surf. Drives my kiddo crazy. So in the last couple of months I've made myself turn it off. Unless there is something specific I want to watch and even then, the TV doesn't go on until it's time for that show to start. It's amazing how much you can get done if you just turn that boob tube off!
Now, since I'm at work with nothing to do, I will stop playing on these blogs (mostly) and write for a while. Five pages by the end of the day! Though I had planned to create my schedule for Nationals. *taps chin* No, that can wait. Off to write.
Marnee Jo asked about revisions. Lisa Gardner has a great article on plotting on her website. http://www.lisagardner.com/tricks/article_pdfs/plotting.pdf I mention it because she used this method for revising her first suspense. When I heard her speak about revising, I adopted ther index card method to redo my Christmas story to submit to another line. Try it, Marnee and see if it works for you. I would have been skeptical, thinking it too much trouble, if I hadn't heard Lisa. Although I didn't use colored notecards! I used plain, cheaper white ones, then used my kids' colored markers. I put an orange line on the ones for conflict, red for sex, pink for the heroine's pov, blue for his, etc. When laid out on the floor in order by chapter (in columns like Solataire), the visuals of too little orange or too much blue really helped me see problems.
I don't know if the Bo'Sun could give up her DWTS or AI long enough to give up procrastination full throttle.
I can turn off the TV (or at least put on a movie I'm willing to ignore as I write), but it's the BOOKS. After a long day, I just want to collapse on my bed and read. And I have this rationalization that if I'm writing in longhand, it's not really writing so I can skip it...but then I rationalize I don't want to fire up the laptop to only write one measly page or paragraph--and end up staying two hours to read a book instead. Which is utter bollocks really. So I'm making myself write long-hand, at least a page or two a night, then when I've "gotten enough" to fire up the laptop, then I write them all in and usually that's enough to write another page or two.
Lately I've been having trouble figuring out HOW to start my chapters. (Clearly I need to start them with a bang in the most non-boring manner as possible), but I'm not sure who's POV I need to be in or whose would be best right now. I believe I'm starting WHERE I need to...but I don't know whose scene it should be belong to...whose would be the most interesting to read. *sighs*
It was a lot easier, I think, when I wrote in first person and didn't have to worry about that. *LOL*
Bo'sun, you have no idea! Being pushy is why I'm still moderator of the GoalTenders loop for our chapter. LOL I'm so proud of you for not making out a schedule and writing instead!! WTG. And I have a secret regarding your TV addiction. *leans in to whisper* Record whatever you can't miss. Watching your program can serve as your reward for pages done. In a one-hour program, you also save 15 minutes not watching commercials. I have the Supernatural series on dvd, with the current season on tape. When I need a reward, I spend 45 minutes with Jensen Ackles! Hoo, baby.
*makes note to buy DVR machine* That is utterly brilliant!
Captain - what if you were just go with one or the other and if it needs changed, change it later. If you get the dialog down, all you'd have to change are the tags. Just get it down! LOL! (Says she who is supposed to be writing)
And you make firing up the laptop sound like starting up a gigantic factory. LOL! Do you have like 50 squirrels running on wheels to provide the power?
Hellion, you cannot talk like that to my good friend the Bo'sun. Of course she can give up her TV and write! Besides, AI is on hiatus. She's going to tape, TIVO, or otherwise record anything important. You get to give her ten lashes if she fails, right? *sighs with envy--no one will let her have a whip* As for your problem, just figure out which character has the most to lose OR which character the reader has to be inside the head of. In TFF, Joe comes to Lisa's door to ask a favor. He's got to convince her to pose as his girlfriend because he's told his mom Lisa's name and his mom is going to meet Lisa at a garden event. So I was thinking, Joe has the most to lose. But we'd already been in his head and the reader (I hope) was rooting for him. If he'd walked in and Lisa refused him, the readers would have thought her cold and insensitive. So I went with Lisa's pov and the reader learned of her husband's deceitful nature and abandonment of her and the kids, cleaning out the bank account on his way out of town. She's in dire straits and really really needs the money catering Joe's party would bring in. Bingo. She's got a lot to lose by saying no. So what does she HAVE to say? Exactly: I despise deceit and won't help you. This strong statement, btw, makes her going to him later to accept the deal even richer. So look at your scenes from both perspectives--which character has the most to lose and/or who do you need your reader to empathize with?
It takes like 3 minutes for the computer to turn on; then I have to finagle it because when it runs on batteries, it doesn't show up right the first time (as opposed if I had it plugged in--but I don't have a 3-prong outlet, so don't bother asking why it's not plugged in). Believe me, by the time 3 minutes or so has passed many a brilliant idea of mine has passed.
And if you ever actually saw where I lived, you wouldn't make the squirrel joke.
Strangely the crap I wrote down yesterday didn't have any dialogue and about half a page down I realized I was writing out backstory, so I'm glad I got it out of my system by handwriting it rather than typing it...now I can maybe get to an area where they start doing something interesting.
Megan, you're right...I need to think about who had the most to lose at the moment. Though they are both about to lose what is important to them: the mansion. In exchange they are getting the other thing that was "important" to them: Freedom from each other.
I think the scene might work better from Adam's POV rather than E's. I need to go back.
Hellion - In a scene like that, would it work to change POV in the middle of the scene? One smooth transition right in the middle and we'd get both POV without hopping. Just an idea. I've used it though I'm not sure how smooth the transition was.
My comp hates the battery. Screen gets darker and hardly lasts an hour before I have to plug it back in. Forgot about your outlet issues.
What has surprised me most since getting published? Maybe how much work promoting the book is. Or how much I love booksignings, which being the shy retiring type, I thought I'd hate. The upside to taking so long to sell is that I learned a lot along the wait. *grin* I'd heard authors discuss issues like selling the next book, the sophomore experience, lines closing, editors leaving, etc. I admit I didn't prepare myself for the promo thing. For one, I'm not really comfortable on the computer. This virtual world is so vast, with no land on the horizon for safe docking. I get lost and confused. I thought by the time I ever sold, IF I ever sold, things would have already changed, so why learn now? And things have changed since I joined RWA. I remember a program on the internet and this search engine called Lycos. 99% of us in the room had no clue what the presenter was talking about, even when she finished. Fortunately, Kimberly Killion is helping me along, holding my hand and leading me to safety. She's a wiz at this stuff--check out her site and see what all she's doing. So the surprise is partly because I didn't prepare and mostly because I don't like this strange new-ish world.
No, you don't understand. I don't like how the chapter STARTS. I don't care if the POV shifts in mid chapter; I've done that...I just don't like how it's starting. It's like...having the story start with the heroine waking up in bed and starting her day, or riding in a carriage, staring out the window, and wondering what her true love will be like. It's not interesting.
Hey, Hellion, next time you're in port, go to this place called a store. I bet you can barter some bananas for a three prong adaptor.
Oh, I get the chapter issue now. You need to get to the action. We can figure this out. They find out during a talk with the big guy right? So you start right there. Probably right before the go in to see him. Can you get some lightening or a clap of thunder in the beginning? That would be starting with a bang.
Just thought I'd chesk to see how you were doing. I wish I had time to join in the fun, but it looks like the crew is taking good care of you.
Back to the real job... :(
POV shift? Yeah, you can. Nobody here follows the rules anyway, right? I read those posts! LOL The reason to stay in one pov is to connect the readers. Check out the Garden Society event in TFF. When Joe comes into the kitchen, we're in Lisa's pov. She's worried about meeting his folks and getting more catering jobs from this one. I change to Joe's pov as they're walking out to meet his parents because one, we now understand Lisa's feelings and two, Joe's got a lot to lose if his mom doesn't buy Lisa's being his girlfriend. I also got to show his concern for mom's health and their cute relationship. So it can be done if you have a good reason.
Hellion, I wrote my first book long-hand. I loved the flow of the pen moving across the page, the ease of scratching out the crap that didn't work, and the margins for making notes like "lup" for "look up" a fact later, or "rpl" for "replace with a better word later." Very freeing. Then when I typed it into the computer, I got to edit some more. Shirl Henke wrote most of her early historicals by hand, then sent them to her partner to transcribe. As long as you're writing, it the right way!!
Hellion, while determining pov, also look at their internal conflict. It might seem like A&E are equal: they both lose the mansion but gain their freedom. But what else is going on? WHY does each need the mansion? WHY does each want to get away from the other? If you can't which is the more powerful pov choice, cheat. *blushing* Did I type that for the world to see? Jeez. Embarrassing, but good advice. Whose pov have you been in too long? If all things are equal, enter the head of the character with less "voice" time.
Actually I *have* an adaptor, but I'm convinced using it is what killed my computer the last time. You know thost big dire warnings they put out that say, DON'T USE ADAPTORS? Yeah, well, they might be as valid as those labels on pillows that say, "Removal of this very-important-flap will result in imprisonment of 2-5 years", but now I'm afraid to use them on my computer.
Don't worry, Megan. I don't POV shift ala Nora or anything. If I POV shift, it's 6 pages of HIS POV, then shift and finish the scene (of 6 pages) in HER POV... Not perfect, I suppose, but tolerable, right?
One of the reasons I got a piece of chocolate for turning on my writing computer is because it's such a hassle! I dread going down to the basement, for one, but then I have to turn on the light in the room, which powers the outlets, push on the computer button, wait for it to not click, go back and flip the room light off/on to jumpstart the outlet and see if that makes it work. So, yeah, I'm with you there. It hardly seemed worth the effort unless I was "in the mood" to write. You can spend those three minutes waiting for the squirrels to get going by jotting notes by hand. You won't lose the idea that inspired you to turn the thing on. I also like to leave off writing with a little note about what comes next. So I'll usually stop (burn out) just shy of what I know. It helps to get going again.
BTW, my pillows all have the flap still on them. :)
Okay, no head-hopping, that's good. Cuz that really can disconnect your reader, which is the only reason for the rule. Make your reader care. That's hard to do if they're never grounded in one character long enough. But 6 pages, give or take, should be fine. And since you're probably sticking to the two mc's, the reader's probably looking forward to the shift, like banter. I love witty banter! I have another idea, Hellion, since you don't want to use an adaptor. :) Get thee to a library or wi-fi spot with access to three-prong outlets! You might find that actually making the trip out (committing the time!), keeps you writing longer.
I cut the flaps off.
Pirate.
I never think about which character has more to lose. I need to keep that in mind. I'm not sure I would have recognized head hopping before I started writing. Do you find it more difficult to let go and enjoy a book and not keep thinking how you would change something or being too critical?
Megan said:
“I love to write about the guy next door. He’s more real to me than billionaires, at least in my neighborhood. He’s a strong individual who respects a woman and is supportive without fear of losing any masculinity points. He has a sense of humor, and of course is always terrific looking.”
*sigh* I really need to be moving to your neighborhood. Because if I have a closer look at the guys next door (which I usually try hard to avoid) I have one pot-bellied pot-smoking loser who thinks protecting the environment means not taking showers too often, and a guy who is in and out the loony bin on a regular basis. Right now it's an out period....not sure how I feel about it.... So I could do with a guy from your neighborhood. ;-P
Congrats on your new release Megan and welcome aboard!
I've been remiss with my grog duties. As usual.
Megan!! Welcome to the ship! It's great to have you aboard.
Hellion, figure out what the goal is for your scene. To use your examples, are you trying to show the heroine's outlook on life as she awakes, dreading or eager for the day? Great--so it's for characterization. Unless the dog has poo'd in her bed, or there's a dark male head she doesn't recognize or does know but doesn't want to see there, then don't show her in bed. The big answer to most questions is motivation. WHY is that chick in the carriage? If a highwayman isn't coming or she's not sharing the carriage space with an arrogant male she's unwillingly attracted to, get her out! What I'm saying is, look at your scene. What you're writing sounds (from the examples) like a prelude to the action. If you know the action, get to it. You can go back later and layer in your transition to how the character gets to the action. You're writing a first draft, ducky...I mean, Captain Ducky. There's more work to do later. So leave it for then! OTOH, if you don't know what's going to happen (like me) until you get to the action part, you just have to write it. There's this wonderful thing called delete. I'm especially fond of "Cut and Paste." I also have a file (with a name I can't share here) where I put all the stuff I take out. I hardly ever use it later, but it's easier to cut if I know it's not "really" gone forever.
Note: Megan has to dock for a while to retrieve her son from school. Be back after lunch.
Bo'sun, I find it harder to read without critiquing, yes. But reading books I wasn't satisfied with got me writing in the first place, so maybe I've always been this way.
Steph! *LOL* Those sound like my neighbors: only insert meth makers for pot-smokers. I'm thinking of moving to Ireland to find some neighbors. You think I might have any better luck? At least if I live next to a bunch of drunks, I can't point fingers, you know what I mean?
No worries, Sin. I'll pick up some grog on my way back with the boy.
Stef, EEKS! I feel your pain. Maybe you need to write that wonderful man-next-door because of the reality of yours. Can't say my "real" neighborhood is full of heroes (dh excepted, of course), but you should see where I live in my head! Yum.
Welcome Megan! I am so glad you are writing about the guy next door. That's who I am writing about! And, no he's not a billionaire or anything. No Navy SEAL. No Interpol spy. No law enforcement. And I worry about that because when I talk about my book and the hero and heroine I sometimes think people's eyes are glazing over.
Your story and your writing inspire me!
Santa - I have that same feeling. We're going to have to work together to figure out how to concisely describe our stories when asked in the elevators at Nationals. Surely together we can come up with something!
You already sail with a bunch of drunks.
My neighbors are quiet for the most part. Thank goodness. Since there are 12 apartments in my building, that would get old if they were crazy.
I love the "get her out of the carriage!" bit. I do this a lot. Start with her getting ready in the morning. Or have her driving to work. I have to work hard at getting to the action. But it gets better with practice.
Megan: I can't write! I think that even if my life depended on it I couldn't create anything. I rely on talented authors to help me escape reality. (though rum helps a lot too)
Hellion: Ireland? Mm why not. Or scotland. definitely Scotland. Couldn't point fingers either AND they wear kilts...
Thanks for the info, Megan! I'm off to check it out!!
Santa, You only think people aren't interested! I'm the same way. At my signing Friday night I answered questions I've been asked since selling (where do you get ideas? how much do you make? why didn't you quit writing long ago?) and I swear I saw my mom drop off for a few winks. It's probably all in your head. The guy next door is the heart of America.
Santa, Bo'sun--PLEASE look me up at Nat'l! We'll head to the bar (of course) for a round or two. Maybe we can grab Kim Killion too.
Sorry, Stef, I just thought you were writing too. Feel free to use my heroes for escape. :)
Bo'sun, some of the "getting to the action" writing we do helps us get the feelings of the character in our minds. Or setting or whatever the scenes include. The best thing to do is just write them. Better to have them down to cut later than to stare at a blank screen wondering where to start. Sometimes writing is circular: Point A curves to B, which arcs over to C, which passes D to get back to A. While that seems messy, Points BC&D must be necessary for us, the writers. Unfortunately, they may not be necessary for the readers and we have to cut them.
If I have drinks with everyone who has offered at Nationals, I'll need AA meetings when I get back. LOL! But I can drink water! Consider yourself found. I'm selling raffle tickets at the signing (crew groans at hearing this AGAIN) so look for the chick in the pirate blog t-shirt selling raffle tickets. That'll be me!
Hey, you know where I'll be this year at the signing? At a table! with a name plate! behind the books I've had published! You'll also know me because of the goofy grin. I'll look for you.
Nope I don't write. Which sometimes makes me wonder what I do on a ship full of romance writing pirates.... Followed Jack aboard one day and saw that the ship was full of kegs of rum. Do I need to say more?
Oh yeah and there's that undead monkey too.
And I'll sure use your heroes to escape RL, Megan.
Megan - I suppose as you'll be stationary (and seated in alphabetical order) it would be better for me to find you. LOL! Do you know who you'll be sitting with? Is there someone between you and Kim? I know Christie Kelley isn't going and I can't think of other "Ks" at this moment.
Bo'sun, the complete list is at the RWA site under conferences. There are a couple people between me and Kim, notably Sherrilyn Kenyon. Karen Kendall and Leslie Kelly will be directly on either side of me.
Hey, Stef, kegs of rum would lure me too! I'm obviously not a pirate (see pillow tag confession) and I love it here. Too fun.
Stef - you know you're always welcome. You're our connection to the French Rugby Team!
Oh, how could I forget Sherrilyn. She's so sweet. And one of Hellions Heroes. You've got some prime real estate right there, girlfriend.
I'm off to stats class but I want to be held accountable so I'll say I wrote two pages, not five. Still, that's two pages I didn't have before AND I introduced to secondary characters that I want to put together by the end. And boy did they not get off to a good start. LOL!
Hi Megan,
I thought I'd accept your invitation and stop by. Not that you need me. You have plenty of lively company over here. It took me a bit to get to the bottom of the comments to leave mine. Things that I thought to comment on have happened so long ago now they are almost forgotten.
Except that Hellion, In Ireland that guy next door is likely still living with his ma and won't marry until he's near 40.
As usual, though all around her are trying to lead her astray, Megan stays on task and passes out the excellent writing advice. That's why she makes such a good task master at both the critique group and on the goaltenders loop.
Barbara Scott, who's making a lonely stand on her guest writer loop duty today where no one speaks.
Hey Barbara, I'm near 40 myself (well, within rock-tossing distance, think Sally Albright from When Harry Met Sally)...so 40 might not be bad...
Bo'sun, Thanks for letting me aboard today. Two pages is more than zero, so congratulations. I'm glad your new characters aren't getting along; it's more fun! Stats class? I took that one about a zillion times. YIKES
Barb, Thanks for stopping by. I visited Esther's blog this morning, but she still had yesterday's post up. I appreciate the praise especially since staying on task around here, with the Captain shooting the poor undead monkey every time I tick her off, and Sin offering me rum (which being a polite girl, I can't refuse)--it's really hard.
Cheeky thing, aren't you? *LOL* I'm going to be logging off in a few. Thank you again for coming and being our guest today! It was great having you on board. And thanks doubly for the writing advice and the brainstorming where I should start my story!! Now I just need to go DO IT. :)
Thank YOU, Hellion, for inviting me aboard. You and your crew have been great. I'll be hanging out, on and off, till the wee hours, drinking rum and singing ditties with the mates. So if anyone else has comments, send 'em my way!
You guys shouldn't leave me alone! I just checked my other email while I waited for a question and wound up agreeing to judge the Gateway contest from MO Romance Writers. Save me from myself. :)
Okay, time for a dinner break. I'll check back later this evening.
Oh, you have that problem too. I get rooked into things all the time and wonder how that happened. You have dished out some great writing advice today. My stat class doesn't start for another five minutes and they were silly enough to put us in a room with computers. So I'm playing.
With the advice I've gotten from Kim Killion and now you, I'm starting to think the MO chapter is the place to be. Too bad I'm so far away. LOL!
Not that I don't have a great chapter, just sayin'...
I need to correct that and say I introduced two secondary characters that were already in the story to each other. I really shouldn't type these things when I'm in a hurry.
Another great interview, Hellion. And I'm another who is encouraged by your man-next-door hero, Megan. The hero of my only complete mss is rich and famous, but he is still essentially the man-next-door--defintely not an alpha warrior or a tortured hero.
Do you ever have ideas for different projects coming so fast that you have problems focusing on one? That's the problem I'h having now. I'm much better at starting than finishing. :(
Yo Ho, Megan!! Tis an undead monkey we be seeing on yer shoulder. Ready... aim... fire! Tar!
Man-next-door. All my heroes come from opposite sides of the country and face change, struggle to change, while bantying about with a fiesty heroine to boot. A few have carried the heroine off to play. :-) (I like that best!) I guess that stems from my Army upbringing. I'm obsessed with uprooting my characters and placing them in unknown circumstances. Huahuahuahua!!
I've mightily enjoyed your writing tips to the crew. The Capt. himself (wily Jack) would be quite proud.
I'll have to stop by and give you a Yo Ho at the Literacy Signing! What advice can ye give a dogey ol' wench like meself about writing past the sagging middle? Where do ye get yer ideas? And, if ye were to sail across the sea, where would ye go.
UNDEAD MONKEY! Ready.. aim.. fire! :-)
Janga, Thanks! I'm dealing with a few ideas at the moment. The trick is to compartmentalize, which I can do to some extent. First, though, I had to write out what I knew so I wouldn't lose the idea while not working on it. Then Prioritize (write the one my editor and I discussed) so I can promise myself I'll get to those other works after they simmer a while. That way I can concentrate on the front burner stuff. If I have an idea on the others, I just note it down however best to remember it. Once again, it's about discipline. :(
Bo'sun, I've already received our chapter's volunteer award. You'd think I would have learned! I'm already signed up for the two moderator spots and our in-house contest coordinator next year. Oh, well. The Gateway is a great contest with awesome prizes and I'm happy to help our chapter.
Kathy, Please be careful with that gun! At this time of night, I'm afraid I might resemble the undead monkey! Okay, sagging middle. This is a troublesome bit of navigating for many a writer. Whether you're a plotter or not, you need to keep in mind this area and plan something there. The middle is usually a good place for the couple to have sex or admit to themselves they're falling in love. Something major should happen, a pivotal plot point. Sex and realization of love qualify. You can do something with your external conflict also that changes things. If you have a couple on the run, the stakes somehow get ratcheted up--maybe one suspects the other of betrayal because the pursuers close in. They're forced to stay together, rely on one another to escape, but the trust is compromised. Now, I don't write RS, so this won't work for me. Since I don't plot, it's harder for me to look back at my work and pinpoint what I did. If your middle sags, add a complication. Does that help?
My ideas? Well, THE FAKE FIANCEE started with an article I read about a man who killed himself in the parking lot of a casino, leaving a note to his wife (who didn't know he gambled) saying he was sorry, and btw, he'd run up the credit cards and mortgaged the house. It wasn't quite that flippant; it was a real tragedy. I couldn't get my mind off that poor woman (who the papers didn't interview). I wrote a prologue where the policeman comes to the door to tell the wife. It was powerful. But my first chapter turned light and romantic because that's my voice. Since the prologue didn't fit, I changed the husband to one who cheated and walked out with the money instead. The main focus is the same: the heroine has to overcome major debt, raise the kids, and regain her trust in men. My current wip features a character from TFF who demanded his own story when I had no intention of ever writing his. So that's totally character-driven. I had to discover who he is, what he wants, and why he can't have it. (goal, motivation, conflict) Then I paired him up with the perfect foil. It's great fun to write. I'm just along for the ride, letting my characters do the work.
Kathy, I thought of an example of the sagging middle. The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy runs away from home, gets swept up in a cyclone, kills one witch and antagonizes another, starts out for the Emerald City and meets three bizarre characters who become friends. *contemplates her day here* Anyway, about the middle of the book, she gets to the EC. Yea! But the Wizard first won't see her, then says bring me the Witch's broom. YIKES See how the complication ratchets up the tension? Instead of sagging, the middle zaps viewers like a stun gun. Does that help?
Were I to set sail, I'd go to Ireland. My brother in law (Rick Mangun)took some amazing pix that made my feet itch to travel. Visit his website! They're wonderful. I've always wanted to go for the castles, green fields, and pubs, and especially to meet the people. While I was there, I'd have to pop over to Scotland too!
And it looks like time for me to dock. Thanks to everyone who posted today. I had a great time! Looks like time to pull a name from the hat. *drum roll* Santa! Please contact me at megankellybooks [at] aol.com with your book preference and mailing address.
Megan - I'm late with the thanks here. This was a great blog and a great day, thanks to you. And about that trip to Ireland, I have it on good authority the Captain is plotting a course in that direction. Since you're both right there, you could go together! LOL!
Thanks again and I can't wait to meet you at Nationals!
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