The real reason dust bunnies are taking over…

By Tamara Hughes

Just days ago, I saw the movie Yes Man. If you haven’t seen it, the story is about a man who attends a seminar that convinces him he should say yes to every offer that comes his way.  With Jim Carrey as the star, we’re led through some pretty wacky offers that he says Yes to.  From what I understand, the movie concept is based on a book by a real man who decided to say yes to everything for a year and wrote about it.  The idea made for a silly movie, but got me thinking.

For many of us, our lives are crowded with activities.  Each day we can barely catch our breaths from the pressures and deadlines we have on our shoulders.  And yet, even with all those activities filling up our lives, how often do we hear or even feel that we never get to do what we want to do?  We say no to many opportunities because, well, we don’t have time.  In essence, like in the movie, our lives are so busy, we don’t live life, we just exist.  Okay this is a pretty depressing viewpoint, and a little dramatic, but stick with me here.

When I saw the scene in the movie where the Yes Man guru is determined to convince Jim Carrey (Carl) to join the world of Yes, I was reminded of a course I took - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Stephen Covey (the creator of this concept) actually even looks like the guru in the movie.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Anyway, there’s a habit in this course (#3 Put First Things First) that encourages you to categorize those activities that take up your time.

There are those things that are:

• important and urgent – when the cat scoots his butt across the floorsignifying a glandular problem, you may want to get on that one right away
• important and not urgent – preparing for coming events, planning, working toward goals
• not important and urgent – for me this includes telephone calls (must answer phone…stop ringing!), paying bills (yes, you need to do it, but is it really important to your goals in life?), some email
• not important and not urgent – time wasters – TV, surfing the web, watching YouTube, most email

As you can see above, the most valuable time spent would be on important things that are not urgent.  Of course the key here is that you need to decide what is really important and what’s not.  We need to prioritize how important exercise is to us, our hobbies, that dream to be an Olympic gymnast, and then try to find ways to focus as much of our time as possible on those items.

For writers that means finding a way to make writing a priority in our lives, for readers it’s reading.  In fact, there was a time when I used my valuable reading time to study for a class I was taking.  After a few weeks, I found I was grumpy and downright unhappy.  I forgot the importance of giving myself time to escape in a novel.  I missed it, and it showed.

So when cleaning out the dust bunnies comes up in my life, well what can I say.  I’m trying to prioritize, and I’ve become quite fond of bunnies.

What do you think?  Are you prioritizing your life?

Have a great day!

Tami

Poor Jane…poor, poor Jane

By Tamara Hughes

Now I’m a pretty laid-back person.  Very few things really get under my skin, but when I first heard about the “new” book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I was appalled, no worse, disgusted.

I have nothing against horror stories (although I shy away from them myself), and I can seriously see mixing romance and horror together for those who enjoy both.  No problem.  But messing with Jane Austen?  Come on.

My favorite movie of all time is Pride and Prejudice.  The story is a classic.

No, that’s not it either.  While it annoys me that Pride and Prejudice suddenly has zombies terrorizing the town, what gets me is witnessing legal plagiarism at work.  I realize that Jane Austen’s copyright has expired, making it perfectly legal for Seth Grahame-Smith to take her book verbatim and add his own subplot.

Still as a writer, I feel like shouting at this guy.  “Come up with your own story, your own words.  Don’t copy someone else’s and call it your own.”  And then I swallow hard.  Didn’t I use lines from Hamlet in my own work?  Yes, yes I did.  But copy a whole story?  Hmm.  Nope, still bothers me.

All right, my ranting is done.  And now I’m eager to see what you all think.  Feel free to disagree.  I’m calm now.

Have a great day.

Tami

You can’t teach a dog new tricks…but maybe he could learn not to pee on my leg

By Tamara Hughes

When it comes to romance story premises, they say there are no new ideas…And indeed, some themes have been recycled more than their fair share.  After all how many times have you read romance novels about mail order brides, forced marriages, women dressing as men, amnesia, pirates…need I say more.  Yet, who can go wrong with a pirate?  I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of them.

But are there really no new ideas out there?  I suppose when you think about it, even paranormal romances, which only came onto the market a handful of years ago, could be considered a carryover from Dracula.  Although who knew Dracula was such a handsome, tortured soul?  Still, these types of stories were new to the romance shelves.

I recently attended a local writers meeting, and the person sitting next to me said she was writing a horror romance…a mix between a horror movie with all its gore and blood and a romance.  Interesting.  And how would it be received?  Is there a niche out there for a novel so different?

And what else can our writer brains come up with?  How about a political romance, a war drama, a sports-based story?  Then again, have these already been done?  Think Dave or The American President, Gone With The Wind, and I’ve seen countless Nascar books on the shelves these days.

What are your thoughts?  Are there new stories out there?  Or is the best we can hope for new twists on old stories?

Food for thought.

Have a great day!

Tami

Everyday it’s the same thing – Variety

By Tamara Hughes

There’s no denying it; people are creatures of habit.  Most of us enjoy the comfort of our daily routines, our favorite foods, our usual hangouts.  That got me wondering…when it comes to reading, do we also stay in the comfort zone?

I think it’s a well established fact that readers who find an author they enjoy will most likely read more books written by that author.  So what if the author writes in a variety of genres?  Do fans of Nora Roberts automatically gravitate toward JD Robb books because they’re Nora’s stories?  Or has she found a new fanbase to eat up her books?

Personally, I love historical romances, and have for many years.  My favorite author for the longest time was Johanna Lindsey.  I devoured everything she wrote.  When her futuristic stories came out, I didn’t hesitate.  I read them just because of her, and I loved them.

Four years ago, after considerable thought about the explosion of paranormal books, I gave a one a try, and became hooked.  Now I find myself reading lots of paranormals and urban fantasies.  Sadly, it seems I’m fairly slow on the draw when it comes to trying new types of romance.

How about you?  Do you stick to reading one genre, or perhaps like me, you very  slowly explore what else is out there?  If a favorite author expanded into another style of book, would you automatically read it or have to think about it a while?

Just curious.

Have a great day!

Tami

You say you like creamy best. I like chunky. Why can’t we just get along?

By Tamara Hughes

Last week there was a big uproar after some comments Stephen King made in an interview with USA Weekend.  In the interview, he said, “…Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”  Given the great success of Meyer’s Twilight series, the public outcry was thunderous…as I’m sure King knew it would be.  He is, afterall, in the midst of promoting his new book Stephen King goes to the Movies.

So what struck me wasn’t his less than stellar opinion of Stephanie Meyer’s work, but the underlying question.  What constitutes a good writer?

Obviously, this is subjective.  One one had we have Stephen King, and on the other countless fans of her books.

Typical of me, I missed the big wave of praise as each book in the Twilight series came out.  It wasn’t until I heard about the movie that I became aware of the phenomenon.  I saw the movie, liked it, and decided to give the book a try.  I wanted to see if the magic on the screen also existed on the page.  Alas, with the American Title competition and everything else, I only picked up the first book in the series last Monday.  And, well, wow.

I know there are those that aren’t big fans of the books.  Let’s face it Twilight has minimal action.  It’s mostly about the relationship between Bella and Edward.  Even so, I was transfixed, eager to find moments in my day to read more.  What sucked me into the story was the chemistry, the tension, between the two main characters.  Their every touch and every word sparked little electrical currents between them.  Much better than the movie.  What can I say?  I don’t have time to read, and I still finished the book on Saturday, and had to buy the next.  Then I was a total bum on Sunday and read over 300 pages of New Moon in one day.

Now back to the question.  In my opinion, a great writer isn’t necessarily one that is careful to keep every scene in one point of view or uses perfect grammar and punctuation.  To me a great writer is one that creates a compelling story that takes hold of you and shakes you – immerses you in their dream world so deep, you just want to ride the currents until it’s over.  This isn’t an easy feat to do.  And yes, bad grammar and incorrect point of view can pull you out of the story if you’re not careful, but it’s still the story itself and the craft of reaching out to the reader that matters the most to me.

What do you think?  As a reader, what’s important to you?

Have a great day!  And good reading.

Tami

Promo – For some one letter away from profanity

By Tamara Hughes

The one thing I wish I’d been more prepared for in the American Title V contest is promotion.  Although as in any contest, the quality of the work is most important, the ATV is unique in its marketing aspect.  Unlike any other writing contest I’ve ever heard of, the public decides who stays and who goes.  So, much like what happens when you finally publish, you want to draw  to the contest site/book store as many people as you can who might like your book.

The question then becomes, how can I do that?

In today’s world of technology, we have many options: FaceBook, MySpace, Twitter, LiveJournal, etc.  All places where potential readers/voters congregate.

You could set up a website and blog with friends.

And then there’s the traditional way with bookmarks, T-shirts, and flyers.

We could spend hours upon hours doing promotion in many different ways, and I have to ask…Does it make any difference?  Or is our time better spent working on the next book?

Recently my local writer group hosted a panel of local authors, and I asked them about promotion.  What do they do?  And one of them said she’s done both on-line and store promotions and found it’s a lot of work with very little payoff.  In her opinion promotion didn’t sell books.

Last fall this same writer group invited Donald Maass to teach his Writing the Breakout Novel course in a one-day workshop.  And according to him, the only promotion that works is word-of-mouth.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying promotion shouldn’t be done.  I’m just confused as to what works, and what is worth the time spent.

So, what do you think?  Has promotion worked for you?  Is there a secret to  marketing that I just don’t understand.

Before I close this blog today, I’d like to congratulate last year’s American Title winner, Helen Scott Taylor

At long last, her American Title winning book The Magic Knot is available for purchase today!  Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.   I can hear the crowd cheering.

Let’s get a looksie at this award-winning story…

HE’S A BIKER WITH AN ATTITUDE

What woman wouldn’t be attracted to Niall O’Connor’s soft Irish brogue and dark good looks? But Rosenwyn Tremain must find her father, and she isn’t going to let a sexy, stubborn Irishman and his motorcycle distract her. Rose’s intuition tells her he’s hiding something, a secret even the cards cannot divine. Her tarot deck always reads true, but how can one man represent both Justice and Betrayal?

SHE’S A WOMAN ON A MISSION

Magic. Niall’s body tingles with it when he finds the woman snooping in his room. Rosenwyn might believe she’s a no-nonsense accountant, but her essence whispers to him of ancient fairy magic that enslaves even as it seduces. Her heritage could endanger those he’d die to protect, but her powers and her passion, if properly awakened, might be the only thing that can save both their families, vanquish a fairy queen bent on revenge, and fulfill a prophecy that will bind their hearts together with…THE MAGIC KNOT

***

And we get a book excerpt from The Magic Knot.  Awesome!

Rose Tremain sat on the chair before Niall’s desk, his Magic Knot cradled in her palm. She swayed slightly, her eyes dazed and dreamy. His nerves sparked. Need for her struck like lightning. He managed to suck in air, to ruthlessly crush the feeling until his body calmed.

So, he had been right. Rose Tremain was more dangerous than she appeared. She’d been sent to enslave him by capturing his stones. If she thought he’d give in easily, she had another think coming.

Silently, he walked forward and closed his hand over hers. His vision blurred at the whip of sensation. Too late, he realized his mistake in touching her. Gritting his teeth, he fought the mental pull as she sucked his very essence through their joined hands into a deep hidden part of her that whispered of ancient magic and mystery.

Niall snatched up his Magic Knot and stumbled back. His breath came in short gasps as he stared at her in shock. Rose was the Cornish pisky Tristan wanted. How had she stopped them from sensing the truth about her? That deception alone proved she was up to no good.

Slowly, her green eyes focused on him. Confusion set tiny creases between her delicate brows, then surprise chased them away. She slapped a hand over her mouth.

“Aye, be afraid, little thief,” he whispered. “You’ll pay dearly for your deception before I’m done with you.”

***

Congratulations again, Helen!  Woohoo!  For anyone out there interested in reading the first two chapters of The Magic Knot go to www.HelenScottTaylor.com and click on the link on the home page.

I know I’m eager to read more.

Have a great day!

Tami

Love Scenes: Love ‘em, Hate ‘em, or Too Shy to Say

By Tamara Hughes

A few months back, my critique group had an interesting discussion about love scenes.  There were some who hated writing them, and those that didn’t see the need to include them, at least  explicitly. 

I found this conversation thought provoking.  I’ve read romance novels for years, and most include romantic interludes, to put it delicately.  For me, these scenes are important to the story.  As someone who likes to “live” in the shoes of the hero and heroine, I see sex as a natural advancement of a relationship.  If it were left out entirely, depending on the story, I would feel something was missing, that next level of intimacy that helps to define a relationship.

While I respect an author’s choice to close the door, I prefer to be included.  Of course, then we could consider just how hot a love scene can be (cozy, spicy, or red hot).  I’ve read all three levels, and I admit I’m more of a spicy girl, both in what I read and in what I write.

How about you?  Do you enjoy reading and/or writing love scenes?  Does it bother you if they are left out?  If they’re in there, do you prefer cozy, spicy, or red hot?  And why?  -  OK, could be too many questions for a Tuesday morning.

Just food for thought to keep me warm on this frigid day.  Right now in Minnesota, my thermometer reads 18  below zero.  Brrr.  Now you know why I like it spicy.

Have a great day!

Tami

A writer’s best friend – coffee or chocolate?

By Tamara Hughes

It’s come to my attention that with the holidays, my kids at home, my husband taking a week off, and the American Title V rattling my nerves, my productivity has slid, big time.  Part of me pats my head and brushes off my choice to be a bum.  It is, er was, Christmas afterall, and hey New Year’s is coming up fast.  Enjoy, drink, eat and eat, and be merry.  The other part of me, the driven writer who yearns to be published, flicks my ear.  Get going.  Your work-in-progress isn’t going to write itself.  So Monday, after a better part of a week vegging out, I pulled myself out of bed at 5:30 and wrote.  Of course, not without my steaming cup of coffee (lightly sweetened) and my comfy writing sweater.

So my question of the day.  What inspiration, what drive, gets our butts into those chairs when we’d rather be doing something else (like sleeping, or snuggling with the hubby)?  And once we’re in that seat, what keeps us inspired and on task?

As a lifelong Catholic girl, I would say guilt drives me the most (sad, I know).  When I don’t make progress on my new work, I feel like I’m letting myself down.  And once I’m in the chair, I’m good if I have a quiet room with few distractions, my coffee, and my sweater.

How about you?  What are your muses and inpirations?  What gives you that drive to write that book, paint that wall that’s had chipped paint for the last three months, or vacuum behind the couch (hee hee – like anyone vacuums behind the couch).  Well, let’s have it.  Divulge your secrets.

Have a great day, and an exciting New Year!

Tami

Ready on the set…and Action!

by Tamara Hughes

Action scenes – I love to watch them.  I love to read them, but writing them can be a challenge.  We’ve all heard the suggestions – keep sentences short and limit  description that can slow things down.  And still it’s easy to fall into the habit of writing paragraphs filled with technical description of each action as it happens.

Sometimes it feels like a tricky balancing act to keep everything fast paced without getting too mechanical.

So as I prepare to write a new action scene in my work in progress, I pose the question…do you have tricks or rules you follow when you write action?  If you’re a reader, have you read an action scene that just blew you away?  Or maybe one that wasn’t so super (what about it turned you off)?

Have a great day!

Tami

Today is the first day of the rest of your life…and so is tomorrow.

By Tamara Hughes

Humor in writing.  There are many forms of it, and many uses. In my American Title V entry Once Upon a Masquerade, I have a heroine who blunders all the time.  She accidentally digs herself a hole that gets bigger throughout the book.  I also introduce the hero’s best friend, who likes to amuse himself with silly looks and fun banter.  In my wip, however, my humor has changed course.  My heroine has a wry sense of humor, finding odd ways of looking at the most ordinary things.

For me, I can’t help adding humor, even when I don’t mean to.  It’s just something that happens.

If we take a look at some of the various types of humor, you may find that you use or appreciate humor in writing too.

• Banter – Two characters teasing one another back and forth.  This can make for great dialogue.
• Odd ways of looking at life – George Carlin was a master at this:  “If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?”
• Blunder – If you seen the movie (or the series) Get Smart, you witness a man blundering through investigations.  I suppose this would also be a form of slapstick comedy.
• One-liners: “My mind is like a steel trap…rusty and illegal in 37 states.”  (badum bum)
• Blending or hyphenating words to make new ones – I’ve seen this in at least a few books.  Something like:  she went to that get-up-on-stage-and-recite-poetry cafe.  (Ok, not so funny when I do it.)
• Snarky comebacks – These can be insults.  They can be particularly fun when spoken between a hero/heroine.
• Making light of a situation – like in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movies – “What happened?”  “They caught a train.”  (Said of course after the bad guys were hit by a speeding train.)
• Practical Joke – I don’t see this as often in print, but it could be quite funny if the hero plays tricks and the heroine catches on and beats him at his game.
• Situational humor – just being in an odd situation or an odd reaction to the situation.
• Irony – Irony can be very effective, but sometimes takes too long to set up to be effective in a book.
• Puns – “Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off?  He’s all right now.”
• Freudian slip – I just saw this one yesterday – “As we were looking at the display case, the boy behind the counter asked if we needed any help.  I replied, ‘No, I’m just looking at your nuts.’”

So, what do you think?  Do you write with humor?  If you’re a reader, what humor do you like?  Or maybe you find humor distracting?  Thoughts?

Have a great day (tomorrow too)!