Thursday, June 24, 2010
Making The Great Escape
I had a really strange horoscope last week. From Rob Brezsny, who does a great column, called Free Will Astrology. I’m a Sagittarius and this is what Rob said:
I wouldn't say that things are about to get darker for you. But they're definitely going to get deeper and damper and more complicated. I don't expect there to be any confrontations with evil or encounters with nasty messes, but you may slip down a rabbit hole into a twilight region where all the creatures speak in riddles and nothing is as it seems. And yet that's the best possible place for you to gain new insight about the big questions that so desperately need more clarity. If you can manage to hold your own in the midst of the dream-like adventures, you'll be blessed with a key to relieving one of your long-running frustrations.
I read that and thought, “Fabulous.”
Sigh.
But it all made sense, in a strange fashion. Last week was just steeped in surreal frustrations and I’ve yet to figure out the key, but I’ll hang in there. One thing I have is faith in life, so it will shake out.
I also realize I write this way, a lot. Rabbit holes, slipping into riddles and nothing is as it seems. I love it. Pure, total chaotic escape from reality. (Reality is over-rated.)
Sure, I love my life, for the most part. And I dig the challenges and I relish the chances I’m given. But I’m also a big one for slipping away and playing. (Hence, pirate festivals, renaissance faires, scifi conventions, steampunk gatherings…) So, I believe in escape! Writing escape is what we’re all about as authors.
Now, there are different levels of escape. Some write simple, barely leaving the real world behind. Set in this time, this age…real problems. Rent, bankruptcy, job woes, family heartache…nothing we all haven’t faced or known someone who battled these problems. And, of course, romance worries. Since we basically are dealing with romance one way or another.
Contemps are the light escape and often falls into rescue. Either by a romantic interest or through growing into one’s own, rescuing self. Very empowering.
Ah, there is the historical escape. Leave the modern world behind and step into a place and time that is totally unreal. (I mean come on, no matter how historically accurate a writer goes, if it’s a romance, a certain level of creative invention takes place. Even if it means there are less fleas in the beds, and no one smells from not bathing.) The challenges of the historical? Well, threat of poverty. Threat of social shunning. Threat of spinsterhood. Threat of losing the ranch? (Westerns are historicals.)
(Hellion is still on vacation, right? I know how particular she is about historical accuracy.)
But what a lovely escape they can offer! The clothing, the balls, the carriages, the country homes, the horses… And rescue. Lots of rescue in historicals.
The paranormal/urban fantasy/steampunk/adventure…one way to escape the real world is to totally remake all the rules. Forget about the bills, the broken radiator…we’re going to look at major baddies. Bloodthirsty vampires, maniacal sorcerers, demons! At risk? Your soul! Your life! The world!
Risk it all, gain it all. Or sometimes you don’t gain much, other than you won. You survive. And that isn’t a bad thing. Today’s world needs survivors as much as it needs heroes.
The great escape from the real world can consist of so many things, places, times… I recently spoke of the pirate circus. I can envision this…total escape. Everyone has heard of the idea of running away to join the circus. The basic circus has never really appealed to me, but a pirate circus? Oh, yeah. I may need to write this ship into my third Kraken book… The pirate circus ship, traveling from port to port, putting on shows…this is going to be fun to write and a great escape for me.
(Where’s my muse? I have a new packet of marshmallows and we need to get a campfire started, flesh this idea out…) (He’s gonna want to work the trapeze, I just know it. Thinks he’s Burt Lancaster…)
What is your favorite escape? Historicals? Contemps? Suspense? Paranormal? Adventure? (Vote for me!) And, OMG, I can’t forget comedy… What do you find works for you when writing? What takes you away from the worries of real life? Who wants to serve cotton candy at the pirate circus and who wants to work the trapeze?
I wouldn't say that things are about to get darker for you. But they're definitely going to get deeper and damper and more complicated. I don't expect there to be any confrontations with evil or encounters with nasty messes, but you may slip down a rabbit hole into a twilight region where all the creatures speak in riddles and nothing is as it seems. And yet that's the best possible place for you to gain new insight about the big questions that so desperately need more clarity. If you can manage to hold your own in the midst of the dream-like adventures, you'll be blessed with a key to relieving one of your long-running frustrations.
I read that and thought, “Fabulous.”
Sigh.
But it all made sense, in a strange fashion. Last week was just steeped in surreal frustrations and I’ve yet to figure out the key, but I’ll hang in there. One thing I have is faith in life, so it will shake out.
I also realize I write this way, a lot. Rabbit holes, slipping into riddles and nothing is as it seems. I love it. Pure, total chaotic escape from reality. (Reality is over-rated.)
Sure, I love my life, for the most part. And I dig the challenges and I relish the chances I’m given. But I’m also a big one for slipping away and playing. (Hence, pirate festivals, renaissance faires, scifi conventions, steampunk gatherings…) So, I believe in escape! Writing escape is what we’re all about as authors.
Now, there are different levels of escape. Some write simple, barely leaving the real world behind. Set in this time, this age…real problems. Rent, bankruptcy, job woes, family heartache…nothing we all haven’t faced or known someone who battled these problems. And, of course, romance worries. Since we basically are dealing with romance one way or another.
Contemps are the light escape and often falls into rescue. Either by a romantic interest or through growing into one’s own, rescuing self. Very empowering.
Ah, there is the historical escape. Leave the modern world behind and step into a place and time that is totally unreal. (I mean come on, no matter how historically accurate a writer goes, if it’s a romance, a certain level of creative invention takes place. Even if it means there are less fleas in the beds, and no one smells from not bathing.) The challenges of the historical? Well, threat of poverty. Threat of social shunning. Threat of spinsterhood. Threat of losing the ranch? (Westerns are historicals.)
(Hellion is still on vacation, right? I know how particular she is about historical accuracy.)
But what a lovely escape they can offer! The clothing, the balls, the carriages, the country homes, the horses… And rescue. Lots of rescue in historicals.
The paranormal/urban fantasy/steampunk/adventure…one way to escape the real world is to totally remake all the rules. Forget about the bills, the broken radiator…we’re going to look at major baddies. Bloodthirsty vampires, maniacal sorcerers, demons! At risk? Your soul! Your life! The world!
Risk it all, gain it all. Or sometimes you don’t gain much, other than you won. You survive. And that isn’t a bad thing. Today’s world needs survivors as much as it needs heroes.
The great escape from the real world can consist of so many things, places, times… I recently spoke of the pirate circus. I can envision this…total escape. Everyone has heard of the idea of running away to join the circus. The basic circus has never really appealed to me, but a pirate circus? Oh, yeah. I may need to write this ship into my third Kraken book… The pirate circus ship, traveling from port to port, putting on shows…this is going to be fun to write and a great escape for me.
(Where’s my muse? I have a new packet of marshmallows and we need to get a campfire started, flesh this idea out…) (He’s gonna want to work the trapeze, I just know it. Thinks he’s Burt Lancaster…)
What is your favorite escape? Historicals? Contemps? Suspense? Paranormal? Adventure? (Vote for me!) And, OMG, I can’t forget comedy… What do you find works for you when writing? What takes you away from the worries of real life? Who wants to serve cotton candy at the pirate circus and who wants to work the trapeze?
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54 comments:
Actually this might come as a shock but when I want a good escape novel, I read a historical. I just finished LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON by Lisa klepyas and it was SO good. I hear it's not supposed to be out until next Tuesday but I got a hold of it last Thursday.
Now I'm going to bed. Chanceroo, I'm on your side of the coast now. Still an hour behind you though.
When I'm not writing, I like to read historicals. When I'm writing, I read paranormals. So, most of the time I'm reading paranormals. I would say that I don't like to read in my genre, but when I was writing my paranormal, I read paranormals too. So, I don't know. I just think when I'm writing I like to read paranormals.
I think my writing fits a lot of the way paranormals are written. Not all, as I don't like 1st POV, but the straightforward, no frills of paranormal fits the writing style I shoot for.
Sin - hope you're having fun on vacay!
Chance, you're lighting a fire on the ship? Oh boy. Hope we have some firemen amongst these Hotties. . . :)
I think comedy is always my escape. Laughing relieves the pressure of real-life worries (since I'm feeling those more today than usual, I may need to do some serious laughing!)
I can't read what I'm writing, so when I'm doing 1st POV, I stay away from those, and read historicals instead. When I'm writing historicals, I read contemps, or romantic suspense. I don't want to unconsciously pick up on someone else's words OR get discouraged because theirs is so much better! LOL
I would love to see this pirate circus, Chance. It sounds wicked fun.
I love the pirate circus ship idea. You must tell us more about it when you've fleshed it out over marshmallows. And if you're making s'mores, pass those babies around.
BTW - You may have dated yourself with the Burt Lancaster crack. :)
I didn't know it was going to be the case, but when I'm writing, I really can't read much. Oddly enough, while I was feverishly finishing up the rough draft, I read a paranormal, something I've never read before. Now that I'm revising, I can't read anything. As she says, it's too easy for the IE to creep in and do the "Your stuff is no where near as good as this."
I only read Contemps and Historicals and which I chose depends on my mood. Haven't been in the mood for an Historical in a while, but there are several out right now I need to get my hands on. I'm already two behind in Tessa's new series and I want that Kleypas Sin is talking about.
Donna - I thought of you this morning on my way to work. Nice set of six pack abs jogged by me while I was at a light. ;)
Bo'sun, I just finished reading Kris Kennedy's THE IRISH WARRIOR, and I'm not a medieval fan, but I loved this book like crazy -- nice humor and banter between the characters, sexyhot -- I even sent a fan-tweet to the author last night. LOL
Dear Evil Twin Substitute,
WHY didn't you throw those six-pack abs into the back seat and drive all the way up here to deliver them?
*whimpers*
Sincerely,
DRD
Most of the contemps I read and enjoy have humor in them so I have to say that when I want to read something 'lively' that what I gravitate towards. Rachel Gibson, Victoria Dahl, Sarah Mayberry...all great. I do love my historicals and certain rom-suspense, too. Not so high on the paranormals...just haven't been able to get into it.
I used to read RS all the time, and then I just stopped. I really don't know why, but I haven't picked one up in YEARS. Maybe a Nora, but that's it. Strangest thing.
*text from ET sub*
U want 'em, u come get 'em.
DaSub.
Sin! Ya must be in Arizonee again. Hope the weather there ain't bein' too oppresive...
Historicals tend ta be the big escape, mayhaps because problems a' findin' a husband before yer twenty seems like a total escape from reality.
I find the language and terms of historicals to be a little intimidatin' and distractin'. But then again, it do draw me away from reality!
...I don’t like 1st POV, but the straightforward, no frills of paranormal fits the writing style I shoot for.
Paranormal is considered no frills? I must be readin' the wrong stuff... Well, there be little in the way a' petticoats and parasols, lessen yer readin' Gail Carriger...
I'm flummoxed. I find paranormals so layered and full a' world buildin' details...no frills? I need a definition a' frills here!
Though it be interestin' that ya don't read what ya write when yer writin' it. Though I seldom read what I write. 'Course that may be 'cause I ain't found anyone who's writin' anythin' near what I write...
Dead Eye, no worries. We saves the s'mores fer when we be on the shore. No fires aboard the ship, save what ya light in yer cabin wit' the assorted hotties.
I do like a good comedy read...and I know what ya mean about not wantin' ta find envy and jealousy disturbin' the flow. I tend ta stay away from Kim Harrison and Jim Butcher when working anything near RF stuff.
I'm thinkin' lately, I could use some Terry Pratchet to help me ramp up the level of absurdity wit' what I write. I'm not worried 'bout findin' his words on me page, I don't write that close ta how he writes. But he might be inspirin'!
Bo'sun - I know, but Burt Lancaster on a trapeze! Sigh. What a hottie! The crew all know I be ancient, so no surprises there!
I love that ya found a paranormal caught yer while ya were finishin' the first draft. Says something 'bout escapin' the contemp yer writin' by readin' somethin' totally different.
I spose it's like scarfin' ice cream in the middle a' summer. Distracts from what yer surrounded by. I had a slushy margarita at the racetrack last Sunday...nothin' like brain freeze in the midst a' Sonoma sun...
Bo'sun! Jus' a nice set a six pack abs? Twistin' me head around that idea. What were ya drinkin'? And can we get some fer the ship?
Visions of assorted body parts joggin' down the street on a Friday morning...disturbin'... Just disturbin'!
Step away from the rum, Chancey. It's too damn early to be hittin' the hard stuff.
Donna, I'm not a big fan of Medievals either, but I've loved both of Kris Kennedy's books. She writes steamy but the hotness doesn't come at the sacrifice of story and characters. She's a terrific writer.
I have to read, and since I find myself intimidated by the gifts of writers in all the genres I read in, it doesn't matter whether I read historicals, contemps, mysteries, women's fiction, literary fiction, memoirs, or poetry. Both reading and writing work as escapes, but reading is far less stressful than writing--unless the muse is in a rare generous mood.
Okay, now I have to make a note to hunt up this Kris Kennedy person's book. Two recs is enough, I'll see what I can do. I'm thinking reading a medieval while writing a contemp might be good. Right now I'm actually reading Vicky Lewis Thompson's new Blaze book, WANTED (per Scape's rec) and it's good without making me want to slash and burn my own stuff. LOL! But it's early in both the book and the revisions, so that could change at any time.
Welcome ta the ship Scorpio...now, keep those pinchers way from me and I'll serve ya up a nice tall cool drink. Nothin' like Bo'sun was drinkin' since we don't need floatin' abs hauntin' the ship...
I read mostly mystery, ta perfectly frank or earnest or whoever. But I have read me some Victoria Dahl...
RomSup is a difficult one. I used ta read more meself, then it just fell away. Don't know, grew too plumped with paranormal happenings? Not sure!
Bo’sun! Jus’ a nice set a six pack abs?
Well, if you think about it -- it sounds like a lot of the romance covers nowadays. LOL
Janga - I attended a seminar last night on "Setting the Page on Fire" where the instructor was a fan of 'it must be fun or why bother' with writing. But she also likened it ta sex...not always the best when ya begin, but still exciting...and gets better with practice.
I tend ta find few writers intimidatin' but mainly I think its because I'm writing something so uniquely my own I can appreciate good writing but know that me own twisted view of a story is all me own...
Not sure, must think more on this.
If I could get the vision a floating body parts joggin' by the car outta me head.
Weren't me who saw 'em, Bo'sun!
Bo'sun, I got the KK book after I saw Roxanne St. Claire tweet the other day about how good it is -- and since I love her books (romantic suspense), I decided to give it a try. I'm really glad I did. Now, thanks to Janga's rec, I'm gonna get the first one!
Scorpio -- LOVE the name, since I'm a Scorpio too. :) I'm a big fan of Rachel Gibson, and Victoria Dahl -- I don't know Sarah Mayberry, but looks like I'll be on the lookout now!
Actually, I've been getting WAY too many recommendations here -- LOL -- now my TBR pile is getting even bigger.
Donnaroo! Yer right, I seen those covers...the disembodied bits a hotties...
I'll check out Kris Kennedy...
That reminds me, I need to have a fire sale on books really soon. If I'm going to be moving, these things have to go! I'd give them to the UBS, but then I just get credit to buy more and that will not help me. LOL!
Chance - You're a strange little monkey, darlin'.
Well, ya know...I do watch a fair amount a' cartoons... and zombies be the craze...
But you said it were a set a six pack abs jogging. Jus' 'cause I take ya literally!
Chance - I didn't mean the plots and characters were no frills, only that the writing style was no frills. The voices tend to be more straightforward.
I didn't say a six pack of bud light, I said a six pack of abs and you know what that includes!
I've never heard of this Sarah Mayberry either. I'll have to look her up. (Because, ya know, I need another book.)
(Because, ya know, I need another book.)
I know exactly what you mean. I have a Borders 40% off coupon for a new store opening today, AND I got an email saying romance books are Buy 4 Get the 5th one free.
Lately I've been donating my already-read books to the library. I know they've had plenty of cutbacks, so they can sell these or put them on the shelf -- it's up to them. I feel like I'm helping AND I don't feel guilty for buying books. LOL (How can I feel guilty when I'm helping authors AND libraries?)
Ah, OK...the first person style that most paranormals seems to be stuck in! Got ya, Marn. I do like that this is sliding around into change. Or maybe I'm just not reading paranormals... I read an odd little urban fantasy/steampunk book a few weeks back that flitted about from POVs... I love watching authors break the rules and do it so seamlessly it works...
I love when there are mixed POVs. Hal's doing it in her latest. Heroine in 1st, hero in 3rd. It's cool.
And I downloaded six more books to my Sony reader last night... I love not having to find a home for books I read. Sigh.
Ya said... Donna – Nice set of six pack abs jogged by me while I was at a light.
Disembodied set of six pack abs jogging by. Since I saw no reference to the rest a' the body...
So, naturally, I wondered what was sitting on the seat next ta ya fer such a sight ta' appear normal... ;)
Chance, I'm looking forward to having an ereader one of these days. I'm waiting til the dust settles, so I can pick whoever ends up being the winner. LOL Especially since there seems to be new ones coming out every day.
Marn - Only once did it jar me a bit. But her voice was so distinctive that I just shook it off and let the lyrical style carry me away. Ekaterina Sedia's "The Alchemy of Stone."
Liked it so much I downloaded a second book of hers to check out last night.
Donnaroo - I'm hoping there won't be a single winner. I mean, it's obvious that the Kindle and iPad are the biggies...but I think the formats are edging toward always keeping some universalality (is that a word?) alive so that ones like my Sony will still be able to find text. I mean, I can download word docs and PDF files!
I'm hoping we don't see a repeat of the VHS/Beta/DVD thing.
Marn, I started reading a book last night with mixed POVs -- a mystery thriller type -- and at first I didn't realize it, just had this sense that something was different! I'm liking it, and I'm wondering if it's being used to throw off who's the villain, etc.
Chance, that's exactly what I'm afraid of -- which is why I'm waiting. I was gonna get a Sony, and now Borders has two more new ones out. I want the ability to download Word and PDFs so I can read my manuscripts without lugging my laptop around.
I got to see an iPad the other day and it was a thing of beauty, but still bigger than I'd want. I've also seen Kindles and they feel a little too Fisher Price-ish for me. LOL
I have a Sony and have never used it. It was a present, I didn't want it, what are you going to do? I can't sell it because I know one day my boss (who bought it for me) is going to ask about it and she'll want to see it or something. And then I'd be screwed!
Between the three I've seen, Kindle/Sony/Nook, I like the Kindle best. But I don't like the limitation of Amazon only, so I ignore them all and buy real books. :)
The books are real! Just like this blog is real...just exist in electronic form! I didn't like the Kindle because of the propriatory aspect of the thing. Same with the iPad.
I bought an ancient initial e-reader decades ago, called the Rocket e-book...and it died, totally. A victim of the format wars that had barely begun to erupt.
I do think they are keeping a more open mind now, because we the consumers won't put up with it again.
I hope.
the blog is paused and I'm taking the dog out... Catcha later!
OK, maybe the blog is dead...not just paused. Or in a coma...it happens.
We're all off in a great escape somewhere?
I was waiting for you to take the Pause button off. LOL
Actually I'm off to run some errands, so I'll check back in later. :)
If'n Bonnie had her choice, the paws button would never be turned off.
Have fun stormin' the errands!
I'll just sit here, on the deck...getting sunburned...
I'm here! Well, off and on anyway. :) A few of our usual suspects are out adventuring. Sin, Hellie, Hal.... Keeps the skirmishing to a minimum, ya know?
True...Hellion is off the ship. Sin's in the desert...
Mutiny! Let's take the ship somewhere exciting! Let's...turn it into a pirate circus! I have the unicycle act on the yardarm!
Anyone else?
I got lucky enough to escape work really early for the day, but I had to deliver some stuff for work on the way home. Now I'm chillin' on the couch. Great way to spend a lazy afternoon. Now to accomplish something on these revisions.
Oh, come on, Bo'sun! You know you want to swing from the crows nest on the trapeze!
Women my size do not swing on trapezes. Besides, I get motion sick way too easy. I'd rather be the Ring Master and get to introduce all you death defying pirates.
OK, but you got to let the undead monkey sit on your shoulder...
Sure you wouldn't rather juggle cutlass?
Great circus ya got here! I'm gonna stay way back here during the cutlass juggling though.
Chance, I just saw a book called "Kraken" that's coming out on the 29th -- of course I thought of you. :)
Feeling kind of nostalgic for my younger days today for some reason. I don't want to go back there -- but I'm kinda missing some of the fun things. Guess that means I'm getting old?
Why the hell are you asking? ;/
OK, I'm old. Nostalgia? Eh, have no time for that. Not that somethings were grand, but all in all, underneath most of that grand were some hard truths that might not have been visible, but they stank up the air.
I like the now better.
I don't want to hear about a book called "Kraken" ...what if it's better than mine!?
ARGH!
Though I really doubt anyone else has cast the kraken as cupid.
I just looked the book up on amaz0n and I'm sure it's nothing like yours -- AND I have no doubts yours is better (esp. with Kraken being cupid). :)
It's not nostalgia that I'm feeling exactly (even though that's the word I used!) Hard to explain, so I probably should have left it unsaid. LOL
Well, I suppose we all long for the escape of an easier world where we weren't so aware of the repurcussions of every decision we make, every word we speak, every path we take.
That's a nostalgia I can certainly understand...
You know, when we were all ignorant.
;)
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