Permission Granted

Just recently, I gave myself permission to take a fictional break. This wasn't because I had no stories to write or possible yummies to outline for the future but because I just needed to quit hurting myself. Most of you know that I graduated college last year and I headed straight into several new projects that were consuming me but I'm allowing myself to step back and observe more than act.

I've written my first gothic, have 1.25 books written in a series, and allowed myself to play with an idea that hit me one night that has completely made an about face. It was supposed to be a paranormal romance but has turned into a contemporary. That's strange for me but I'm accepting it. Tossing scenes onto the page when they strike me has been my goal but without the pressure to get it completed by any certain date. I'm working two jobs right now so I need a couple of stories to be read over before I submit them and my anxiety has crept up to bite me in the ankle. 

So, for 6 weeks I set aside and vegged on more than my couch. I told my muse there was no rush and fought to not feel guilty when I sat down with no words to write. I just played about with a few different things and let myself indulge in a few television shows plus the rambling of ideas to my hubby. Being that I'm always on the go, it was hard to start doing this but I have to do something before I put myself back into that frame of mind that had me choking up at any moment of internal tension and drama. 

I've made it four weeks and by not putting pressure on my thought patterns, I've already written more in the last few weeks than I did when I had two deadlines. Go Figure! I don't get it, but it's fact. I was astounded when I paid attention to the word count and page count that were adding up when I would only sit down to type during maybe four lunch hours during my work week. Thinking it over, I believe that my plotting during sedentary moments, (driving in traffic, showering, and such) were the times that I giggled over what I could do to my characters next and then BAM, there was a scene in my head.

So, if you're a bit overwhelmed and don't have a contract looming over your research filled brain, then allow yourself a vacation from fiction and see if it helps with any slump you may be having. It was worth a try for me and I may continue to do it the rest of the year as I just write whatever comes to mind on the next few manuscripts. 

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Hooking Your Reader, five things to consider

Let's talk about hooking :-). Don't you want to grab your reader in the first line as they sort through novels at the book store? Can you start with a line so enticing that they have to see if the rest is like the first line in the book? I'm aiming for that goal.

1. Go straight to the action or a crucial scene that will move the story into a page turner. 

         EX: "I screamed bloody murder when I saw that a car was heading into the lobby of my downtown office." This is better than starting with her coming down the stairs to a car that has already come through the glass entrance.

         

2. Don't use too much flowery language or words that have to be researched to get the point.

          EX:  Paul West's words, "a certain amount of sass to speak up for prose that's rich, succulent and full of novelty." 

          What would be your first thought when you opened up a book and saw this as the opening line? Me? I'd put it down and go for something else.

3. Some words are attention grabbing yet can completely throw the reader for a loop.

         EX: "His mother@*% girlfriend *itch slapped me across my f^&))( mouth."

          Yes, I was kind and yes, I have seen things like this. I was okay with it as the book was from someone that I knew wrote in that manner so I wasn't as offended as I would have been from someone else. I'm great with people using some words, if the scene calls for it, but just make sure of how you handle this kind of opening.

4. Jokes can be a great opener, depending on the humor used and if it's relevant to the story line.

          EX: "So we're friends now, when do the benefits kick in?" This would be great for a romantic comedy but not if you're doing a regency or an inspirational.

5. Go for a power play and use strong words. 

          EX: "The ground shook under my feet and I fought not to fall down the flight of brick steps as the out of control car went barreling through the glass of the front lobby." Sounds better than: I was on the third step when a sedan came through the glass walls of the lobby and had me grabbing the rail for support.

I hope this helps.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

Second Week Snippets - To Have and Too Bold

A Snippet From my published paranormal romance

To Have and Too Bold:

****************************************

“Am I to understand that our engagement party is tomorrow?”

“Is that what has you so upset?”

“Is it?” I repeated sternly.

“Yes. Wait, tell me you knew.”

I shook my head.

“Shit. What did your father tell you?”

“He gave the impression that I had a couple of weeks to get used to the idea.”

Allastair lowered his forehead until it hit the post with a soft thunk. Then he sighed.

“Some of this makes sense now.”

He set himself on the opposite end of the mattress. “I was under the impression that you were involved in all of this or had been told and was considering yourself on strike. Now I see that you were clueless of the plan’s details.”

“Okay, so he lied to you as well?”

“Obviously so.”

“How can we base a marriage on lies and false mirrors?”

“I don’t know, but we have to do the best we can.”

“You still mean to go through with this? Why?”

“I’ve already explained that we have to bond the past of our clans.”

“No, damn it. What do you get out of this?”

“I honestly want peace.”

“I don’t believe that you’re so honorable that you are forgoing any wishes you had for the future in order to go about claiming world peace. Tell me another reason.”

“Why can’t you let it go?” He asked with a tone riding frustration.

“This is my life and you want me to just let it go? And this is why I have so much of a problem getting my head wrapped around this. You don’t know me so how the hell do you think that you can ask me to become a robot for your own pleasure? I’m so fed up with this ridiculous arrangement that I feel like the minute I fall prey to this that I will lose everything that is myself.”

“Yes, you are essentially a sacrifice. We both are. Can you live with that?”

“Ugh! Tell me something selfish that you get out of this, you overbearing asshole. For the love of Rah, what the hell do you want for your own improper needs because I know something is behind all of this?”

“Fine. You sure that you want to force this subject?”

He was suddenly in my face, a bare inch from my nose. His scent rushed around me as it swirled with my anger.

I nodded as I breathed deeply. I caught another scent as he came toward me, lust.

His lips were on mine and I was banged against the wood of my bed. I heard a low growl and the pillow was wrenched away from me. I barely heard it hit the floor before his weight was on me as his mouth bruised mine.

“This is something that I’ve wanted for years and I aim to have it.”

I went to protest and his lips sealed against mine so no sound could come from them. I felt his tongue tentatively trace my bottom lips. The air changed and he was kissing me as if it was the very first kiss he’d ever experienced. I knew that to be false but it evoked feelings in me of stolen moments and tender embraces. At least, what I imagined them to be. I may be a bookworm but I was a romantic at heart. I wanted all the trappings of a passionate love affair, one to last for eternity. Instead, I had a devilishly handsome man who had no other immediate plan than to make me his sacrificial lamb to our broken society.

Then he said something that stopped all coherent thoughts or imprisoned anger.

“Calinda, please kiss me.”

With those words I was lost. I complied.

Whatcha Think???? )))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer

http://store.sweetcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=36&products_id=232

to buy the e reader or print versions

A "running diary” of a writing process - What to write next?

Some of you guys know that I just finished the rewrites on my first gothic manuscript. If you didn't know this then where the heck have you been? Now I have to figure out what to do next. I have about 60 ideas saved in a file and some of them even have rough outlines for what each is about but what do I do next?

I have a 6-8 book paranormal series that I could go back to since I'm only 1/4 into writing the second book but I'm not seeing it selling anytime soon. I've tried to get it out there but it doesn't seem to be what the market is looking for right now. It's my favorite of everything that I have written so far but that doesn't mean that it's going to be easily taken in.

There's a more vintage shifter manuscript that I started but I'd have to get my mind back into that frame to execute it properly. After doing my gothic, my heart is only half into finishing that project, to matter how good I have the story line penciled out.

Maybe I can do several beat sheets on the ideas I have and see which one screams the loudest to be written but that also means that I have to actually get those sheets down pat before I can say that I did my best to pick the story that I need to focus on next.

What seems to be selling right now is New Adult, Historicals, and Contemporary romance...and I'm not into writing those. I'm more witches, vampires, shifters, demons, and such in an Urban or Southern based place.

I'd love to toss ideas out to you guys to see what you would like for me to write but then some lazy person would grab my ideas before I was able to flesh it out for myself. That sucks. So I'm guessing that my only option is to start reading over all of my ideas and find one that has me jumping into my plotting shoes for my next big project.

Any other suggestions? Ideas? Share them with me.

)))Corset Hugs(((

Ginny Lynn

Wench Writer