Writing Inspiration: Punk Fanboys, College, and Vinnie Pies

Pittsburgh, view from the incline

I get inspiration from everywhere. Things stick in the back of my mind - blaring neon signs begging to be shared. They bother me until I have to write them into a story. Sometimes it's unexpected. Sometimes it's conscious and intentional.

I have this love of those indie and punk rock fanboys. Really. They're my not-so-secret crush. You know the ones - the kind who wear band shirts and low slung dark jeans. They are so adamant about their views and on the turn of a dime ruthlessly mock themselves. The ones who sing you lullabies, kiss soft, and stare with such smoldering intensity you can't wait to tackle them in a broom closet, on the playground, and under the bleachers.

Ahem. That's how my character Laran came to be in the KHLOE ALWELL series.

Then there's the places that make you into who you are - colleges and universities - the ones where you party with your professors and the lines blur between mentor, employer, and friend. They live in small towns that bend around the space of the university, and everything stops in summer.It's something between UCSB, Penn State, Juniata, and Bard. That's where Alisa meets Dr. Pierce in BELOW THE BELT.

But inspiration can be more than a specific place - it can be a complete culture, including everything from the food people eat to the entertainment they enjoy.

For example, my dad's family is from Pittsburgh. Whenever we visit, we always go to Vincent's Pizza. I frickin love that place. People on the west coast do NOT understand about pizza. They don't. Anyone who claims they know what good pizza is and then talk about a national chain is stupidly limited in their exposure to good pizza.

There are several styles. There is the Chicago style, which has a time and place. There is Sicilian, also a time and place. Then there is New York, which kind of migrates from NYS down into Jersey, Philly, and west all the way to Pittsburgh. Seriously (I've been to these places and lived there - trust me on this.). These are the kinds of places that have crust so thin in the middle it falls apart when you pick it up. The sauce has simmered for days, because health codes can't get in the way of taste. The cheese is piled high. Once baked, the crust bubbles and the grease settles in the center, threatening a coronary.

So yeah, every Rollins boy loves Vinnie's pies. And he loves the Steelers. And the Pirates. And the Penguins. Because that's what it means to be from Pittsburgh, something that only people with ties to Pittsburgh understand.

And I wanted to share these things, because they were so important to my own formation. They marked my days and nights and built me into the woman I am today. How could I not write about them? About smoldering eyes, fun colleges, and delicious pizza?

These are the things I pull from reality to give readers a glimpse. They are the details that build believable books.

Projects, Next Steps, and the Right Track

Now that applications are done (submission number two will be Monday) and presents are finished (a little wrapping left but...not much) I'm focusing on some other things that need to happen.

Since I've been doing self-hypnosis and focusing hardcore on my goals, I had some divinely inspired projects come to mind. As such, they are definitely on the docket for completion. In fact, one of the books is already in the rewriting/review phase. I started it like two weeks ago. I know. Crazy huh?It is rather short, so being done so quickly isn't a terrible surprise...

NaNoWriMo came late huh? Well, it's not a novel so it wouldn't qualify. I promise to say more about it in a separate post. However, I do need a little help with the book cover. I'm looking for a photographer to do a professional photoshoot of me (and possibly a stylist). It would need to be someone looking to develop the portfolio as well as credit. If you know anyone in the SB area who fits that bill, send them my way.

As part of the aforementioned, I want to develop some related talks and pitch them to various organizations. This would help me achieve a two things at once - one to get some paid speaking engagements, and two, promote the book.

The second project is a little less involved, though I do need to make some decisions about formatting etc because that will change the nature of the book significantly. I guess I need to meditate on that to determine what the best course would be (i.e. what would the proposed demographics prefer?).

This could likewise have some associated talks, and may, though I'm not sure what direction I want this to take.

Finally, if I am accepted into the doctoral programs, I have another problem. I need to finish my 2 beloved series. At least, I definitely need to finish Khloe and the Andrew manuscript, if not Freddy and Charlie too for Rollins. I had a major psychological breakthrough as to the goals of my fiction writing, and it requires some serious reconsidering of the Khloe's development as a character.

In short, I want her to be a bit more of a bad ass. That said, doing that in such a way as to allow it naturally, and balance it with her vulnerabilities is a delicate process. It takes careful handling, and that requires a great deal of thought as I rework some of the earlier writing and finish the book. Presently I'm about 80k. I have about 40k more to finish the book...sooo...she could get pretty amazing by the end.

As to Andrew, I need to go back and make sure I have James consistent with his own story, as well as Jeremiah being consistent with his own. I think I need to consider writing these a little longer and bring them up to 90k or more. James and Jeremiah were on the shorter side, but it seems as though the average ebook consumer prefers a longer book.

I go back and forth about these kinds of things however, asking myself questions like: Is this pandering? Do I need to question this? Am I being true to the story? In the end, I'll probably just go with what feels good at the time and let things go where they must.

Along with those projects requiring completion, I have a few tangential ideas that may be worth developing (like associated teaching or book club materials). In my quest for self-realization, I've been reading a lot about being bigger than your life allows. If you act bigger, then your life tends to expand. I'm working on getting comfortable with this. I do catch myself sometimes getting back down in a small setting, and then I just shake myself off and push myself into that bigger space.

I'm getting good at it.

I intend to not only pull these things off, but do them exceptionally well. It's making me antsy...bubbling in my skin I'm so excited to work on these things.

I think that's how you know you're on the right track. That's what has me smiling.

Am I Wrong? - Belief and the Twitter Feed

I recently got the first rejection in my third batch of query letters for JEREMIAH.

Being pregnant and trying to sell a book might not be the best idea. It's so easy to feel discouraged after receiving so many rejection letters and not getting responses at all from so many other agents. It makes me question if I'm on the right track at all - like maybe I should try something else.

Then, in a bout of ill-conceived masochistic midnight boredom, I looked at my Twitter feed. I follow a lot of writers. They post about their books. They post good reviews and about their successes. It makes me feel stupid, pointless - small. I read quotes about their books that are the exact opposite thing of what I want to read. The more I read of YA generally, the more disgusted I become.

And I wonder...am I wrong?

Am I ahead of the curve?

Am I just plain wrong?

People don't seem interested in whole families that care for one another or deal with real issues. They want pulpy, fluffy twaddle that makes them feel like shit.

Who are these people and why are they so stupid??

I know I'm a good writer. I know I'm on to something in my books. I need someone else in a position of advocacy to know this too.

Where are you friend and confidante? Where are you champion of value and morality? Find me! My voice echoes in empty darkness leaving me dejected and doubting.

The universe conspires to bring us together, groping, and stumbling. I think we all need to pick up the pace.

NaNoWriMo is a Slow Go - Starting Andrew

The first couple weeks of November were bad for writing. I mean, really bad. I was struggling with what story to develop. In fact, I actually worked on three different books (beginning ideas that had been simmering) until I finally decided on something that surprised me.

Andrew.

I expected to take a break from my Rollins boys. I've been living in the male persona for months and I thought I needed to get back to being female (or possibly third person). But as luck would have it, Andrew's story is the one that clicked with me.

It might be because football is going strong (I wrote in a Steelers game). Maybe it was because of the ferment that happens during Andrew's book. Whatever the case, I started it and I'm pushing it along. That said, I'm VERY far behind this year. I'm only at 10,000 words and the month is almost up. The question is, can I finish this book before November ends?

EEK!

If my life depended on it - probably. If I wanted to - probably. So am I going to? You bet your left buttock I am.

I have an entire week off for Thanksgiving. There are no excuses next week (except making my first turkey ever - which will be an adventure in itself).

That said, my fantastic webby friends - wish me luck (and discipline)! I'm going to need it (especially the discipline). And now to get back to Andy...

Wordsmith, Silver tongue, or Quantum Maniupulator?

Halloween.
Sandy.
Full moon.

These things all happened at once - like something from my books.

It sends a shiver down my spine and a rush of euphoric butterflies through my gut.

Maybe it's a little arrogant to say this has anything to do with my books, but I can't help feeling like it's a bit strange. Three things that clearly relate to plot points in my books happened at once. It could have been kismet. It could have been coincidence. It could have been clairsentience.  We'll never know.

I'm going to take it as a sign.

You should too - and read them. ;-)

It's Hard to Be ADD - A Writer's Dilemma

It would be easier to be boring. It would be easier to have a single interest - like the snowy plover or Havana Brown domesticated cats or something equally narrow and limited.

Yes, that would be easy.

But no - instead I have an active, curious and hyper-creative mind. I'm not bragging - I'm annoyed.  I'm annoyed because these aspects that are useful and valued by culture generally are the very things that give me so much trouble. Dear reader, you may wonder how such things could plague a writer.

Yes it is true that I rarely get writer's block. I rarely get writer's block because I have the opposite problem. I have TOO MANY things to write. I have about twenty ideas for books going in my head right now, and I have about three I have to finish before I can even start these other ideas. It's annoying. I can't write fast enough. I can't get interested in the things I should be writing because my ideas floating around my skull are much more interesting. But of course, I can't really write those because I have to finish the things I've already started.

I have half of Lilith and Ammon written and half of a science-fiction project written. I know what is going to happen in Lilith and Ammon, but the science-fiction project is still fumbling around in my head. And then of course, I have my Apex saga Legion project which needs to be finished before both of those. Honestly, I only have a few pages left on that one, which means it will be relatively painless to complete (Yes Chris - it is literally a few days away!).

Happily, I just uploaded James: The Rollins Pack to Amazon. That has taken much longer than I would have liked, but at least it's up within six months of finishing the manuscript. Of course, I also have pipe dreams of writing the other Rollins brothers' stories - Jeremiah, Andrew, Frederick and Charles. They call to me, begging me to write about them. I've even had requests from my first draft readers to have a story written about Sybil, their mother.

It's a problem. Perhaps this is a good problem to have as a writer, but still - it's a problem. So, I struggle to remain focused. This is why the rest of my writing today will be devoted to Legion. Once finished with that, I will complete my personal science-fiction project (you're going to LOVE IT!). Then I'll get back to Lilith. Then we'll see about some of these other ideas. I'm hoping to get close to ten books up this year. 2012 is already half over, but the closer to ten I can get, the better it is for me as a writer. That's the magic self-published author number - ten.

I'll let you know how that works out when I get there.

In the mean time, wish me luck and help me stay focused!!

New Year, New Genre? - A Writer's Goals for 2012

I've been hemming and hawing about this post. Last year I made some grandiose goals that were impossible to reach, and I knew they were, but I made them anyway. Because of what I learned in 2011, I feel better equipped to tackle 2012. Of course, a lot of things have changed since last January.

Since January 2011,

1. We moved from Hayward to Bakersfield.
2. Christian and I were apart for 2 months during the summer.
3. We sold our house in Phoenix.
4. I published The Brothers in digital and paperback formats.
5. I finished writing Lovers and Rivals as well as an unrelated book, James: The Rollins Pack.
6. I also began Lilith and Ammon, book 3 in the Khloe Alwell Series, as well as novelized the majority of the first script of The Apex Saga, Legion.

 All in all, I feel pretty successful in what I was able to do considering some of the life changes that happened this past year. I feel this way despite not having reached my stated goals.  So I guess the question is, what's on the docket for 2012? Well, quite a lot is happening actually.

1. I will publish both James and Lovers and Rivals in the next couple months (both as ebooks and paperbacks).
2. I will co-write at least two scripts for The Apex Saga.
3. I will likely finish Lilith and Ammon, hopefully publish it, and get started on book 4 of Khloe.
4. I expect to work on, if not publish, book 2 and 3 of The Apex Saga.
5. I'm hoping (if I can find the time, and depending on how James is received) to write a sequel to James' story from the perspective of Jeremiah, his older brother.
6. I will play badminton more or less every Sunday afternoon.
7. I'm going to get totally awesome at Zumba 2 for Wii.

This might be a little ambitious, but I think I can do it.  The reason I'm being so intense about my writing is because I have read, time and again, having more books out is better. The reason for this is because you appear more serious as well as having more ways for potential readers to get hooked on your stories. It's a good thing I'm so prolific.

In any case, I hope you'll all follow along on my super intense writing journey during 2012.

Summarizing - A Standalone Art Form

Okay. I'm trying really hard to put together a jacket summary for James: The Rollins Pack and I am failing miserably. Maybe it's the lingering sickness, or the cold medicine I took to combat it. Maybe it's the fact that I just switched over to sci-fi mode to bang out Legion. I'm not sure.

Whatever the case may be, I'm having a major brain fart. Usually it doesn't take me too long to summarize a work, but for whatever reason, my summarizing muse has flown the coop.

This has made me appreciate just how wonderful the art of summarizing can be, and this isn't because I just taught some of my students about it. Really. The ability to summarize is an art form in itself. It takes skill and practice. The ability to manipulate meaning with an economy of verbiage is something few possess. But those who summarize have no problems. They cut through the muck and dross of verbal diarrhea straight to the core, leaving it perfectly exposed for all to see. That is a true art of subtraction.

And I am without it, momentarily.

The thing you have to consider when summarizing a book is, what is most important? What does your potential reader need to know right now? What will drive them to purchase a copy of your work?

This of course, is one of the reasons why publishing houses have someone else other than the author write the summary. Authors aren't typically - uh, shall we say, objective? - about what will catch a reader's interest. Everything is important when you're talking about your creative baby. Everything is good! Except we all know this is complete and utter bullshit. So, publishing houses hire someone else to summarize the work - to package it, verbally, in two paragraphs or less in order to optimize interest and thereby maximize profits.

The funny thing is, as authors, we do write at least one summary of our work once. Anyone who has written an agent query has written a summary, and if that person is at all smart, quite a good one.

This is the problem of a self-published author. We haven't necessarily written an agent query letter. We are our own publishing houses. There is no money to hire a young college graduate to package our books for profit maximization. So what do we do?

Well, you read your book. Then you read other jacket summaries of books similar to your own. Then you sort of copy the form using your wonderful story's content. Viola! You have a summary - in theory. That is unless you're like me at the moment, when I can't figure out what would be best to say and therefore keep staring at a blank text document. But, I'm sure it will come to me. I'm going to try and follow my own advice right now. Wish me luck!

Rollins Revised - NaNoWriMo Book Ready?

I had said I would write something completely new for the novel writing month. And I did. It's different from any of my other projects mostly because to me, it feels the most real, even though it's about werewolves.

This work is also the shortest I've written, just north of 80,000 words. In fact, it only became that long through the revision process. I have a strange habit of adding through revision. Though in my wordier works, I have removed segments.

James' Story is also my first foray into the male perspective. It was fun quizzing my husband as well as placing myself in the mind of so many fifteen year old boys I've met over the years.

So all that remains of this book is a read through by other eyes, another by mine, and a cover. Okay, yes there are some formatting changes that need to occur. But still, I feel this book is thus far the most well written, and the most polished I've done. Granted, it is only my third finished book.

I'm hoping the speed and skill that applied to this work will aid me in the completion of several other projects. This is my sincerest hope. We'll have to wait and see on that point. Cross your fingers!

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