Thursday, September 15, 2011
What A Woman Needs
Ha! Got your attention, don’t I? This could be a really interesting blog and debate. I mean, what do we need? Is it different than what we want? I like to play with those two words and the difference between them.I might want chocolate. I might need iron rich vegetables. Is happiness a balance between them? Or is happiness moving from one to another? (Don’t say chocolate covered spinach or I’ll have to ban you from the bar. Forever.)
Let’s look at a woman, say a high powered realtor who has lost everything in the financial crunch. Someone like Hannah Reed, my heroine of Something Different, being released today, btw! Isn’t it a pretty cover? Don’t you just want to lounge on that loverlee seaside bed?
Sigh.
Back on topic. So, what does Hannah need? Well, a safety net considering her money is gone and she has no job and at 50, her chances of finding a new profession is pretty nil. Hannah needs a second chance. She’s never taken much time for serious romance or developing a relationship. She’s busy! So, what does she need? To save what money she has left and get serious about job hunting.
What does she want? A vacation and to meet the sort of man she’s never taken the time to cultivate. A gentleman. Where does she go and what does she do? Ha! She tosses away the idea of need and goes with what she wants. Good for her!
She chooses an evening sail out of a posh resort at the Caicos, a promised dinner with a gentleman and the possibility of a one night stand. An intimate evening with the sunset shining through a sea so green, it doesn’t look real to her. And then stars that meet the water there… Hell, I’d go for this, too! Wouldn’t you?
Aarón Castillo, doesn’t want or need anything. He thinks. He lost the only think he wanted, his childhood bride, the love of his life, is gone. His children though, they know his need better than he does. The letter from his departed wife makes plain she knows his needs as well…
With the help of the mysterious Madame Evangeline, the defined line between need and want is blurred into one thing. A second chance? A night that will give birth to more?
How often is the conflict of our lives divided by these two simple words? I want… I need… How do your characters reflect the differences of these two basic desires? What was the best set up of these two ideas that you’ve read or seen?
Since today is the release date of this new title I’m gonna give three copies of Something Different away today!
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56 comments:
Congrats on your new release Maureen! Sounds fab, can't wait to read!!
Chance - this story sounds great. :)
This is one of my hero's big dilemmas right now. He wants my heroine but he needs to take care of his family (ie, he needs money). There's more involved, but it's fun to mess with him. Because he's thinking he needs something but he's using his "need" as an excuse to hide from something else.
The best thing I've seen like this recently? Caroline Linden's novella, I Love the Earl had a want/need black moment I thought was great. Oh, and Sherry Thomas's Delicious. Great too.
Congrats on the release of another story!
As for the "want/need" thing -- I think it's a continuum, and there is bound to be some overlap, or blurring of the lines. I remember a billboard from a long time ago that said, "A strong want is a justifiable need". It's a philosophy I seem to agree with. LOL
For eight years of my life, nearly all the conflict centered around these two terms. Once you've been married to a severely spoiled individual, trust me when I say you come away with a keen understanding in the difference between "want" and "need".
I'm happy to report I'VE ALREADY READ THIS STORY. And it's AWESOME. Aaron (can't do those accent thingies) is such a gentleman. I totally picture Franco Nero when I read him. Love the cover.
Congrats Chance!! Another story already? Look at you go!!!!
Want vs. need is an interesting distinction to think about, because sometimes they're the same and sometimes they're mutually exclusive. My hero is definitely facing this. He wants revenge. Badly. He's spent years trying to get it. What he *needs* is to walk away and focus on his family. Those two are definitely mutually exclusive, and it's a hard, hard road for him to give up what he wants and fulfill what he needs.
Happy Release Day!! (I always feel naughty saying that! *LOL*)
I like thinking about wants and needs for characters because I usually think in books, what the character WANTS is the external goal that we follow along to see if they get. But we know that that external goal, the WANT, isn't necessarily what the character will get at the end of the book because it isn't what the character NEEDS. I like the journey in story where the character realized what they want isn't what they need, and they're a lot happier when they have what they need than what they thought they wanted. :)
What my character wants is a divorce. What she needs is recognition--and the realization that her husband loves her just as she is and doesn't take her for granted. Blah, blah, blah. All I know is she wants a divorce but she needs to stay married. *LOL*
I'm trying to think of movies (since movies are usually easier to demonstrate this stuff), but I'm not overly awake yet. *LOL* I will have to drink more diet MD first.
Love the premise of this book. And i bet that a lot of others will too, as so many folks out there are having to start over.
And Happy Release Day too!
Congrats on the release Maureen! It sounds like a crackin' good book....=) There's always a lot of difference between wants and needs, but recognizing them is difficult. On the other hand, I shall never want nor need chocolate covered spinach! =)
Morning! All my plans to rise early and be here extra early...lost in a non-functioning alarm...
But I'm here now! Thanks to a cat who wants to go outside...
Rebecca - Thanks!
Marn - I love these want/need things. Especially when the main characters don't recognize the difference... I'm curious, how does the need to take care of his famly conflict with wanting the heroine? And yeah, that excuse stuff? I'm with you, love using that!
Donna - Hee, hee...a justifiable need...sounds like someone rationalizing things... That is so much fun to mess with!
Hal - Interesting conflict...that is one of those justifiable want things...wanting revenge. And something that can fall into that wonderful grey area of 'should' he want that... But your putting it into the whole wanting it hurts what he needs to do...beautiful!
Bo'sun...awe shucks!
You're so right, most of the conflict with the want/need thing centers around the whole "if I indulge the want am I being a spoiled brat" conflict. And sometimes...you are! And sometimes, you aren't. And sometimes, there is no line between the two... ;-)
When you are on the otherside of the 'I want' continuum...a victim of it...I would imagine the conflict comes into your own life of knowing when what you want is what you need...
*snort!
Hells - Yup, I can see this conflict and you're example is perfect. We seem to always struggle with identifying what we really need, inside. Most try to fill that need with buying this or buying that...or eating more chocolate.
Lots of people spend hours in therapy with this one!
Demi - This was a challenge to write! I mean, he's a gentleman and since one of the things he is certain of is that since he's known the perfect woman...he can't want or need another...it was dancing a fine line to help him see he was wrong.
And his kids were right!
Carrie - Always a kraken good time on the Revenge...and yes, no one ever needs chocolate covered spinach. But, evidently from the sales figures, there is a deep need for chocolate covered bacon.
I love the sound of this book! Maureen, are you signing at M&M? Will you have this book there? If so, I'll wait to buy it. Otherwise, my order is going in today! :)
Congratulations on another book, Chance! The premise sounds exciting.
For my characters the conflict is not between what they want and what they need--lots of blurring there--but between mutually exclusive wants/needs. For example, in book 1, Max wants Dori and he also needs her. Years without her has shown him that. He also wants his career, and his need to perform his music is central to who he is. He refuses to believe he can't have his love and his music until the black moment when he has to walk away from one.
Today's a rainy day. If I could have slept in, I totally would have. *LOL*
PJ - It's a short and is only available in e-form right now. I'm not signing at M&M...not sure I would have qualified to do so... But I will be there!
Hells - I had a terrible night, but I really wanted to be up early to chatter before the sewing class I idiotically signed up for on FRIDAYS!
I have no idea why I did this, other than I suffered a bout of brain coma when I did so...
Janga...Of course, you make it part of the classic confict thing. I think, all to often, the characters themselves are convinced they can't have what they want and what they need and don't have to sacrifice either...well, my characters do!
Wait, did that sentence make sense?
You know...they are certain they have to choose, when they don't...
ARGH! I need to go make myself some coffee...
You story carries a much more poignant view of wants vs. needs. I'm selfish, I want and need to see everyone get everything! Or does that make me generous?
*clapping* You're taking a sewing class? That's awesome! What are you learning to sew? Are you going to make a steam punk outfit?
Hells - Not to begin... I'm so not ready for this class, which is more a workshop than a start-from-the-beginning class. I'm have some black stretchy skull and crossbones fabric and I'm starting with a tank.
Today, I'm mainly going to work on cutting things out and pinning...I doubt I'll get to actually sew today. But it is 3 hours long so I'm taking some thread with me, just in case... I also want to make a very simple bolero and a skirt before I tackle the Victorian type coat I have a pattern for...
Stretchy material IS diving into the deep end of the pool, Mo. *LOL* But I'm sure you'll be fine. Definitely show pictures of your progress!
Let me know if they think it's important to iron your pattern pieces after you've cut them out. I think that's the best thing I ever started doing (instead of skipping! *LOL*) that made sewing so much easier. (Also Simplicity patterns are much more user-friendly, so if you get to pick your pattern, try to stick with Simplicity.)
I hope they have an ironing board at this place. I swear, I had every intention of showing up with pieces cut out, all ready... Blah, blah, blah. Best of intentions, rotten follow through. I'm so not ready for this class!
It isn't a super stretchy fabric.
Crap. Now I'm scared.
You should only be scared if you're trying to sew with that filmy organza the first time. *LOL* But if it's not super stretchy, you should be fine. DON'T. PANIC. You'll get it, I promise. And it'll be fun because it'll be something concrete you can complete in a reasonable amount of time.
Define reasonable.
It's a black velveteen...sorta. But it isn't shedding all over the place and it has just enough stretch for this pattern... I better go grab the thread and toss it in my bag while I'm thinking of it...
you got plenty of love already here but ...as a former "high powered realtor" who now owns a beer biz and writes romance...I am SO gonna get this one!
congrats
cheers
Liz
There ya go! I love it, Liz! We do serve beer here...for those who wants it!
I'd think trying that material at a class where there's a "professional" around to help is a smart idea. Kiddo wanted to take a sewing class a few years ago but I couldn't find one for little kids. Now she wants photography.
*goes out to plant that money tree*
I forgot to apply this to my WIP since it's such a touchy subject for me personally. LOL! My hero wants a woman who will love his little island home as much as he does. But experience has led him to believe that's not going to happen. (Which I guess plays more into expectations. Whole other blog.)
What he needs is to realize that love is more important than the piece of ground on which you live. Once he figures that out, he miraculously gets what he needs AND what he wants.
Great blog and congrats on the release! Need vs. want is always interesting when it comes to creating characters. LOL :o)
Bo'sun - I love when that serendipity happens! Like I said, if we can focus our characters on realizing that the two are not always exclusionary...
I want a fruit from one of these money trees... Photography? Eeek. You'll need a money tree...
Congrats on the release of Something Different, Maureen! Love the premise! Great idea for a post, too!
I like to pretend I need what I want. I need a fall wardrobe. Lol
Oooooh! Be careful, my new editor just stepped on the ship!
Did I use any adverbs in that blog?
Thanks, LJ... I love the want/need waltz...and turning it into a tango.
Kathleen...I like how you think!
At the moment I need what I want. I need a new water heater. I'm so dull.
Congratulations on the release of Something Different!
Hahahaha! My editing hat is tossed on the rack right now. But I have to say...you orchestrate tangos marvelously!
OMG! An adverb...yikes! :oP
What I want right now is nap. Ironically, that is also what I need.
I wonder if Chance has stabbed herself in the thumb yet.
Pat - I just got a new dryer. I really needed it, and wanted it. First new dryer in 30+ years of marriage. We always had hand me downs... And thanks!
Laura - OMG! I'm going to save this comment and throw it in your face someday! Hee, hee... ;-)
Chance is back from her sewing class...nothing done but the realization that what my mother recommends as an easy pattern and fabric is miles from what I need. Now I need to get to a fabric store and find something without interfacing, lining, plaids or stretch...
Now I need to get to a fabric store and find something without interfacing, lining, plaids or stretch…
*rips down mainsail* Here, why don't you use this? :)
Of course it's salt. What do you think we use for the margarita glasses? LOL
Pirate fabric would be perfect.
Well, Donnaroo, if I could get the salt out of it... I hope that is salt...
Oh, I just grossed myself out...
Hoping I can find some fun pirate fabric or something goofy Halloween...thinking a cotton felt...
Maybe you could make a pocket out of it -- for whatever else you're making.
Well, for your margarita... ;-)
I gets mine from Krakey. Slime actually purifies it, ya know!
I wish I had enough of the treasure map fabric I already have... But I used it for a lampshade.
That might work...I think I have enough for a pocket. Or a little drawstring bag... Good idea!
Did the rest of the pirates leave for the weekend? I might just spread my WIP pages out then. Makes it easier to work. :)
I have no idea... You know, you take one little sewing class and they bail on me... This is why I tried to set an alarm and be up early, but my alarm laughed in my general direction and refused to buzz me.
Bitch.
OMG this 1NS book sounds fantastic, Maureen xx And I'm really, REALLY looking forward to reading it xxx Happy Book Birthday xx WOOT WOOT
Hey! Thanks, JoAnne! These 1 Night Stand stories are fun to write!
And now I'm off to fetch the dog from the husband, who took her to work with him today so it would be easier for me to take my sewing class!
http://www.simplicity.com/p-6300-its-so-easy-misses-tops.aspx
http://www.simplicity.com/p-5391-its-so-easy-misses-tops.aspx
http://www.simplicity.com/p-6281-its-so-easy-misses-tops.aspx
So annoyed. I had to dig my own comment out of spam because I had so many links. Ugh. I hope the links work. They look like easy, but cute shirts that you could use soft cotton or blends on.
I'm glad the teacher and I have the same definition of easy. *LOL* that's just funny!
I think I'm going with a skirt, but I'll look at what you linked...
Right now, sleeves worry me... I do have a McCalls pattern for hats I thought I might tackle for fun...and to learn my machine better. They have Berninas in class...that is the easiest machine I've ever played with!
Skirts are VERY easy and a good first project. If you want to be creative, you can do one of those gypsy ruffled long skirts. Very forgiving and you learn a handy technique of gathering material and attaching it to another piece, then sewing it. (Sorta what you'll need to learn on a sleeve, but again, in a more forgiving way. *LOL*)
And I'm glad you've got a good machine--that's over half the battle if you don't have to fight with your machine. *LOL*
Congratulations on the release of your book. I just finished watching the oldish Johnny Depp film Don Juan de Marco, and I am pretty sure I NEED Johnny Depp.
Congratulations Maureen! I want chocolate and ice cream but need spinach and carrot too. In my latest wip, the heroine wants to find her missing father but she needs some TLC by the hero before she can find her way out of her misery.
Every Savage Can Reproduce
Jenny - Ah, like chocolate, love...like chocolate...
Enid - If only they could get those spinach and carrot nutrients into ice cream...
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