Tag: rna

Reading, Writing, Sharing, Listening, Learning, Creating Romance Fiction

August 31, 2018

I’m half way through TTTW which I started a few days ago. It’s a book with over 500 pages so, for me, this is quite an achievement as I’ve always read very slowly. As with housework, I’ve can be easily distracted, but this one is emotional, heartstring-pulling, possible but not possible tale and all the hype surrounding the title, imho, has been worth listening to.

Maybe I’m developing the art of reading like I would a muscle in a gym, because I now have an end goal now.  Which is to be better-read.   Having lived through a period when I didn’t read any fiction for probably fifteen years or more, I now crave it.

During the last ten months I’ve read over twenty books. Whether it’s coincided with other more positive outlooks, or simply a coincidence I’m unsure. What I do know is, my brain now spends time thinking, wanting, actively needing fiction.

I still use social media, but mostly these days to keep in touch with reading and writing buddies. Yesterday I met a group from the RNA (Romantic Novelists Ass) – not to be muddled up with the NRA.

As always, I came away re-focused and driven. I ate my Pizza Express starter while absorbing the inspiration of two ladies on the opposite side of the marble table, one of whom, Kate Hardy, has written over 60 titles for Mills & Boon and the other, Caroline Anderson, has just completed her 100th. Shall we pause for a moment and just consider that achievement?!

For regular readers of Harlequin/Mills and Boon romances, they will know that the bosses at the top choose the covers, the titles and update the ‘look’ of the various lines, as they are known, as often as they deem necessary. Kate and Caroline (whose real names I shall keep to myself) explained they merely get on with writing the stories.

While I now understand there is no archaic ‘formula’ which M&B authors have to rigidly adhere to – a misnomer which many believe – I do ‘see’ the need to keep stories within the parameters of the expectations of their gazillion stoic readers around the world.  Hence, medical romance readers will always require their heroin or hero to be a nurse, doctor, a surgeon but you can place them anywhere in the world you wish.

While I continue my internal debate – that my plots may be more dark and complicated than the Mills & Boon editors would wish to work with – I am thoroughly enjoying the journey of discovering where my writing talents (if any) lie.

I had some interesting feedback from Harlequin in February this year, in response to a competition entry which said ‘We enjoyed your setting and the hero has real potential. However, we would not wish to work with the coercive control aspect as our readers would not enjoy this. We also need to hear more in the synopsis about what your hero’s and heroin’s goals are and how their story unfolds. Good luck and when you have thought about how you might rework this piece to suit us, please send it in again.’

At the time, I was a mixture of ruffled feathers (how can I possibly remove a whole plot line from Riya’s backstory … remember John and the Radhanagari Damsel??) and elation that I’d received an email from staff from THE MILLS&BOON people!

However, I filed the story and the email away and thought no more about it and instead enrolled on that Curtis Brown 6-week online course – Write To The End Of Your Novel – in order that I might develop the chunk of weird words I’d written through NaNo last November. I loved doing that course and now The Key To Verona (TKTV) stands at 27,000 words and is being read as we speak by a reader on the New Writers Scheme, which is part of the aforementioned RNA. I am awaiting the arrival of the feedback.  I know there will be mountains to change but I am anticipating welcoming the guidance which this process should bring.

The authors sat around the Pizza Express table yesterday assured me that to have received a) an email back from Mills and Boon and b) for it to be specific to my story – as opposed to a generic reply – should not be dismissed lightly. Many never hear back at all.  They encouraged me to run with John and Riya, to do what the editor had suggested and to send it in again.

So that’s why I’ve signed up to another Curtis Brown course: Start Writing Your Novel. Why have I gone back to the beginning and chosen this course? Because TKTV has always been on a back foot. I’ve pantsered my way through it, round it, over it, never quite understanding where it’s going. It may be worth completing, once I’ve decided what genre it should be. Could be. Ought to be. ‘Don’t worry about that. Just write the story you want to write’ say lots of people. For six months I’ve welcomed that advice and felt more relaxed about it. For eleven minutes. Then off I’ve gone again, worrying about this aspect, or that.

No.

For this year’s NaNo challenge, I’m planning on rewriting Radhanagari Damsel. It’s going to be 100% romance. It’s going to have enormous peaks of emotion and troughs of harrowing conflict, but the main goals of the two of them are to be together and have a HEA ending.

Now, tomorrow, my new 6-week online course should ping through and this time, I’m focused and ready, like an athlete at the white line, adrenalin pumping awaiting the starting pistol. (Last time, I arrived half way around the track with only one trainer in my bag and no water bottle and had done zero training towards the distance).

Do you see what I’m getting at? I always knew this year was about finding my author voice, making writing and reading buddies, building my confidence that I’d embarked on a passion which was worth my effort (I now take a journal – or last year’s unused diary to be precise – everywhere I go and scribble story ideas down).

Blogging has been truly amazing for me. As my follower numbers creep towards a thousand, I can honestly admit that there are about twenty of you that I would genuinely invite to dinner! (I won’t perhaps bother with the Australian strippers or the ‘Make your millions if you Follow me Today’ types, or the gadget companies or the bots.)

So… best I get my arse out of bed and start my day. I’ve not read any more of TTTW but I’ve enjoyed being here chatting and this post has refocused my goals.

Have a great day, wherever you are 🌏🌍🌎

Warm and cozy romantic reads set in the English countryside. I’m so excited for you to meet my Guest Author – LISA HILL!

August 22, 2018

This novel was published only last month and while I have many books on my tbr list, once I’d met Lisa Hill in person I knew I would read it this summer!   We met at an RNA event (remember thats the Romantic Novelists Association) in May in Oxford, then again at the annual conference in Leeds, and her chatty and encouraging demeanour really helped me to feel part of each meeting.   I read slowly yet finished ‘Heart’ (as Lisa calls it herself) over three days.   My kindle informed me it was an 8-hour read and had I been able to press pause on life to read it in one sitting, I would have done as each time I resigned myself to putting the kindle/phone down, all I wanted to do was get back to it!  

The fun work setting of property agents in Yorkshire made the perfect backdrop against which the story unfolds across three, no, four generations of one family.  Lisa captures her characters so well, I felt I was walking alongside them, and the multiple points-of-view style that she writes in really added an enjoyable vision of the same plot from different angles.   Ultimately a feel-good read but touching on relationship issues makes this novel a multi-layered tale and I was really keen to find out how Lisa had started her journey as an author.    So I sent her an email, then prayed.

Amazingly, she not only remembered me in person, she’d recalled I had submitted my partial to the New Writers Scheme this year and we chatted about her previous experiences putting work through the scheme.    I asked if I could create a blog with some Q&A and we are very lucky that Lisa was delighted to answer my questions and I can share them with you here – how very exciting!

IMG_3588.jpg

How long ago did you first spark an idea for this particular story?

Heart was the reason I started writing really. I kept reading Jill Mansell and Rebecca Shaw novels and loving the cast of characters, who I would fall in love with, and I started thinking about the sort of people I would write about, if I was to write a novel. So, nine years ago, with the glimmer of an idea in my mind, I joined a creative writing class to learn about plot, characters and setting and that was how the plot was formed. Working in property, and always being told write what you know, I decided to write what I always fantasised when I rocked up at a viewing; that my applicant would turn out to be Sean Bean!

Were you nervous writing around a subject where your colleagues might compare some aspects of your character Lottie with yourself?

      Not really, as I just said; write what you know about. My writing career really came about as the result of an unhappy marriage and writing was very much my creative outlet and an escape from reality. And, if I hadn’t experienced that, I wouldn’t have been able to write so authentically about a hero and heroine who have hit a rocky patch in their marriage. Plus, I make no bones about the fact I love to be compared to Kirstie Allsopp; she is definitely the person I look up to in life!

How has being a member of The Romantic Novelists Association helped you?

  I joined the RNA in 2010 after completing a year of creative writing classes and having the bones of a manuscript of what eventually became Heart. The RNA has been a source of invaluable help to me over the past few years; my first New Writers’ Scheme report was so positive and constructive with its criticism that I realised I needed to write the entire thing again! Which I did and received further feedback the following year which helped shape it into what was finally published. Sadly, I couldn’t find a publisher for it at the time, so I ploughed on with another manuscript which also went through the NWS and helped me win the Choc Lit Search for a Star competition in 2016. Not only have the RNA been supportive in a writing capacity, I have made so many genuine friends who are equally supportive. I find the members a source of inspiration and information on a daily basis these days!

What do you do to relax/switch off during the creation of a first draft?

      I can’t. Actually, I don’t really do relaxing! I’m currently sitting on a sun-bed in Corfu answering these questions! My characters are always in my mind but they are my relaxation from reality, really. I find escaping into their world helps with the daily mundanity of cleaning bathrooms, taxiing children to and from schools and dealing with the demands of the business I run with my husband. Plus characters do what I want them to do most of the time; which is more than I can say for my three sons! 

If you had to choose three books to take on a year’s trip to space, which would they be and why?

Head Over Heels by Jill Mansell as it’s the novel which inspired me to start writing.

Cider with Rose by Laurie Lee as it’s set in Slad, in the Cotswolds, where my dad grew up. In fact, my younger son is named Laurie after Laurie Lee. Lee’s description of setting is so evocative, you really feel like you are there.

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian because it is and still remains one of my favourite books of all time. I first read it when I was eleven but it is a story which stays close in mind. If you are a writer, it’s a good plot to track the highs and lows of a story arc. And it might be a children’s book but it very much has love at its core. We could all do with a Mister Tom to look out for us.

Who are you author idols?

Think I may have covered this already, haha! It’s Jill Mansell; the first time I ever met her at an RNA conference she recognised me from my Twitter profile picture and I had a gushing, fangirl moment!

What is a piece of advice you might give to other would-be authors that you wish you’d heard at the start of your journey?

As I’ve already mentioned a couple of times, write what you know about, I will add to that keep going. If you are serious about becoming published – unless you are exceptionally lucky – you are going to suffer rejections. But what doesn’t break us only makes us stronger. So, develop a thick skin and keep going; if you give up you certainly won’t get published. And remember reading is a bit like marmite; some will love your style, others will hate it, you can’t please everyone. One agent might tell you it’s not for them, another agent might want to snap you up. It’s such a subjective vocation and even when you get published there’ll be readers giving you those 1 star reviews because it was nothing like they thought it would be! So know your own mind, keep going and eventually you will get there, I promise. 

Lisa Hill

OMG … now I feel like Parkinson, or Oprah, interviewing famous peeps – tee hee!

Seriously though, I enjoyed Heart so much I ordered Lisa’s first published book from 2017, called ‘Meet Me at Number Five’  and am already 70% through it as I type this post.  (Not doing too badly here on the planning front are we?!)

Another family, all the generations, this time set amongst the racing world of the Cotswolds.   I’m going to need some tissues soon, I can feel it coming (and that’s an art in itself as an author).

If you’d like to check out either book on amazon, the links are below.

A big thank you again Lisa for entertaining me with your novels, for sharing your journey, for encouraging a newbie like myself and I look forward to seeing you soon!

 

10:03 to Leeds … on my way to Romance ❤️

July 13, 2018

Oh Lordy… some bloggers would save all their information regarding this weekend and create an organised, mature, edited and polished post from a post-event point of view.

But that’s just not me!

I need to share the fun bits, the nervous bits, the embarrassing bits with you as I speed towards my first RNA conference aboard one of Richard’s trains which I have to admit are way above those of East Anglia in the way of comfort.

A sneaky breakfast date with daughter for forty minutes at King’s Cross listening to her tired anxieties about having too much work for the hours available (Email the team and tell it like it is darling; they love and respect your work ethos so you can explain you need to think about time management to regain that feeling of treading water rather than drowning. Do it. By lunchtime. You’ll feel better).

This train will be full of writers and authors and plenty of aspiring authors all excitedly waiting to pick the brains of agents and publishers at their one to ones (my first is with Jo Bell at 2:50 today, from Bell, Lomax and Moreton agents). It is going to be such as honour to meet industry profressionals, to hear what they are looking for in the way of fiction this year, to hear what they thought of my synopsis and chapter 1 🙈 (*can I go home now please? Stop the train*).

Take copious amounts of wine, the message came across loud and clear. Fiddle. I don’t drink wine. Ha! Vodka nestles amongst my clothes for tipples later🥂

I am beyond excited to be spending time with my friend Julie from A Little Book Problem and for us both to be mingling with many like-minded New Writers Scheme members and making new friends 🖌

Amazing what treasures you find when you go searching … such as a Lancaster Bomber

July 10, 2018

I’ve only three days before my journey to Leeds for a weekend surrounded by RNA members and NWS participants.  I really should be concentrating on my ‘pitch’ as I have three one-to-one meetings during the course of the weekend, all of whom will by now have read that first chapter (oh my word; now I’m starting to feel sick).

First, just had to share this ..

The last time I went rooting around in the barn I came across a letter to my much younger self .. do you recall that post?

Well today I went searching for a photo of my dad in his RAF uniform to show you guys but didn’t find one. However I did rediscover the gem above.

My other grandad, my mother’s father, was a watercolourist and particularly specialised in aircraft.

He painted this Lancaster long, long before I was aware I would enjoy powerful machinery. When he passed away, I was left this painting and I’m glad I’ve found it today (of all days!) because I shall bring it inside and find a frame for it.  How apt is that?

What treasures have you found from your past? 🌸

Writing the dreaded synopsis! Keep focused!

June 4, 2018

Ok… this is JUST what the doctor ordered. I know writers usually only worry about the dreaded synopsis AFTER they’ve completed their manuscript, but in my case I need to prepare one in readiness for some potential meetings coming up when, if I’m lucky to secure a slot or two with some agents at the RNA conference, they require a synopsis plus your first few chapters, or around the first 5000 words, BEFORE the actual conference takes place so can talk to us about our WIP!

So, deep breath. I hope don’t waver all over the place like this wall, but I do need to create one for my debut.
It now has a working title by the way – THE KEY TO VERONA.

I’m grateful today to find this brilliant blog post by ALISON WILLIAMS all about synopsis writing – looks like I need to follow her for all the other great advice she gives about writing on her other posts!
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Alison Williams Writing

15-more-reasons-writing-is-important-header.jpg

Like writing the dreaded blurb, writing a synopsis can throw the best writers into a panic! This is something else I’ve written about before, but is definitely worth repeating.

I’ve worked with lots of writers who can compose the most beautiful prose, bring scenes to vivid life, make me care about their characters, keep me turning the page, but these same writers find one thing almost impossible to do – they can’t write a synopsis.

What is it about a synopsis that has so many writers struggling? It doesn’t seem to matter how great a writer you are, there’s just something about condensing your masterpiece down into one or two sides of A4 that strikes fear into a writer’s heart.

And I think that’s the issue. As authors, we spend so long on our books, every last detail is important to us. A synopsis asks us to get to the…

View original post 402 more words

Surround yourself with like-minded people for inspiration to truly kick in

May 18, 2018

One word I did not anticipate hearing bandied about when I joined the Romantic Novelists Association last November was family. Yet at each of the calendar events I’ve been able to attend to date, I have heard the word many times from the mouths of both published and yet-to-be published writers in attendance.

I certainly came away feeling welcomed, encouraged and very hopeful that my manuscript’s evolvement (is that a real word?) to its completion is a high possibility.

My goal this year is to finish it, even if it then collects dust on the shelf within the desktop files on my laptop. I set out to write and story and write a story is what I shall achieve.

An Airbnb in Oxfordshire and Man of the Woods taking the trip with me (left him behind reading the paper 😬) has been a pleasant break in horse rug proceedings and made a minibreak out of what could have been a rushed, shoe-horned event. The support of my husband is a valuable piece of the jigsaw.

I do get giggly and chatty when excited and enjoyed many conversations with different members last night – the amazing Katie Fford 😱 chatted for a while at one point, and how lovely she is.

I don’t recognise some of the acclaimed authors because I had such a huge break in reading (about 15 years) and I don’t tend to read historical fiction, hence when asking a lady next to me ‘and what do you write?’ and to receive a fairly shocked face in return as if I should know, I wanted the floor to swallow me up. I’m not even going to mention her name, so embarrassed am I not to have known her.

Note to self: when in doubt, keep mouth closed 🙈

When rejection leads to improvement

February 20, 2018

images

As promised, Harlequin Mills & Boon did indeed send me some feedback today on that potential first chapter and synopsis which I rather rushed in order to submit before the competition deadline last Thursday.

Their email is a reassuring mix of helpful tips where I have let myself down and positive praise – they like my ‘voice’ and say my style has potential.  They explained the difference between a synopsis and the blurb on the back of a book (which is what my synopsis looked more like).  Blurbs are what we read stood at WHS in the airport when we’ve thirty eight seconds to choose a book before that final call to the departure lounge.

Synopsis is more of a map illustrating the journeys the main characters take within the plot.  Importantly, and quite surprisingly, it should include an outline of the ending.   A potential publisher or agent need to know this even before they get into your whole manuscript.  I suppose this is what is meant by the arc of a book’s journey.  The hook in the opening chapter …. the map listing all the important junctions where characters make decisions … through to the conclusion.   You’ll not find that on the back of a book and now I more fully understand the anxieties of writers who struggle when writing their synopsis.

The ‘covering letter’ is the ‘pitch’.  That one chance to shine above all the other submission letters on that agent/publisher’s desk.  There is obviously an art to this too; as there was no feedback on that :-s

However, I am excited that they gave me two links.  One leading to great advice about synopsis writing, and I have printed the contents for some bedtime reading and a second  inviting me to submit a ‘new project’ as Radhanagari Damsel (in its slightly altered attire for M&B) was not quite right for this particular series – True Love – of Mills & Boon.

M&B do work to formulas, and these obviously pay off for their loyal readers and the authors within each series.  Their website is quite worth a wonder round if you write romance as they are alway looking for new authors.  This is not to say my submitted chapter one would not be accepted by contemporary womens’ fiction publishers elsewhere.  I shall keep and develop it further when I’ve more time, putting back the thriller element, which I took out for the competition.   I mean, JK Rowling was rejected plenty of times before someone took a punt on her!

My main WIP as you may recall is presently one aimed at the RNA’s New Writers Scheme (NWS).  This is the Romantic Novelists Association‘s annual initiative to also find and assist new writers, and I am one of 300 lucky people on this year’s scheme, aiming to submit as many words as I can by August (yeah, and how many did you write this morning? All of 379).  They recommend between 80,000 and 120,000 for a decent novel, but one huge piece of memorable advice I brought back from that meeting in London a few days ago was keep typing and ‘Submit a ‘partial’ if you’ve not been able to complete it in time.  Don’t waste the opportunity for a read and feedback’.  And that snippet of anxiety-reducing information was given to me by a longterm member of the RNA, a multi-published author in her own right; OMG, I can’t believe I didn’t curtsy, and turned out one of the readers on the NWS!  If you are new to me and didn’t see my post about that enlightening meeting, find it here.

So, a good day in the office I feel.  My perception of my life right now Ben? Mike? is a positive glass-half-full type of vibe.

Have a free istock photo of Tuscany to get you in the mood … Lucy is about to meet a man who is going to disagree with her contemporary plans for the vineyard; he’s run it perfectly satisfactorily for the previous forty years thank you very much.

PS  I’ve just had a genius idea – you know how I like my mini goals?  What if I promise you that every single post from now on, I finish with my WIP wordcount so you can watch it grow, (or not as the case may be).   Absolute genius; you’ll be like a virtual homework marker now .. and there you were thinking you could get away with merely reading my waffle, rather than having to take note of numbers!

Wordcount: 21,956