Open Book

Stephanie Bond's open journal for readers and writers, updated as often as the muse strikes and Stephanie's writing schedule allows!  (Note:  If you want to read the steps Stephanie goes through in writing a novel, the first entry is September 20, 2004.)

(Click here to go to the bottom of the page and read the entries forward.)

Sunday, July 20, 2008  Step away from the light
Last week I nursed a low-grade migraine for 3 days.  I chewed Excedrine and sat with an ice bag tied to my head while I wrote, just chalking it up to spending so many hours in front of my computer.  But at one point I took off my glasses to massage the bridge of my nose and instantly felt better.  Then I realized that I'd gotten into the habit of wearing my glasses all day long--glasses that I really should only be using to drive.  And I realized I was using my glasses to see the screen better, yet some times of the day I saw it better than other times.  Then I had a "duh" moment when I realized what I really needed to do is reduce the brightness on my laptop screen.  Have you tried this?  If you're planning to spend a lot of time looking at your computer, play with combinations of bright to dim overhead lights and bright to dim lighting on your laptop screen.  (To adjust the light on your laptop screen, you usually hold down the Fn (Function) key while holding down the key that has a symbol on it that looks like a cog.  If you don't have those keys, do an Internet search for your model PC/laptop along with the phrase "adjust monitor brightness.")  After my "ah-ha" moment, I did some quick research on-line and found this older yet apparently still relevant article that says not only does your computer leave the factory with the monitor brightness set too high, but the contrast is probably set too low!  New PC? Take Time to Adjust the Monitor.     ~ 

Friday, July 18, 2008  APC coming to my neighborhood soon (I hope)
The people at my local post office hate me.  Over the course of a year I mail out HUNDREDS of packages of stuff--books to booksellers and reviewers, books as prizes and charitable giveaways, foreign language copies to libraries, promotional packages to reading groups, on and on.  I'm the official line stopper at my post office--everything I mail is complicated and always takes a long darn time to process.  (It's also not unusual for me to have to mail things internationally, which means customs forms on top of everything else--yeehaw.)  To make the lines even longer and the customers even more cranky, the stamp machines were recently removed from the lobby of my post office, meaning the person who wants to buy one lousy stamp gets to stand in line with the person who needs 10 money orders, and me.

Recently one of the clerks told me that they were supposed to get a space-age machine known as an APC--an Automated Postal Center, which allows postal customers to serve themselves!  I went on-line to find the one nearest me and the next time I had the opportunity to be in a car (usually about once every couple of months), I drove to the post office with the APC to 1) see how close the P.O. is to a MARTA train station (relatively close, but I wouldn't want to make the trip often laden down like a camel), and 2) how the APC actually works.

The APC is a kiosk that features a scale and a monitor that walks you through creating a metered stamp for your package, and it warns you up front that it has to fit through the door to the metal bin in the wall.  The experience is a little klunky, but it beats the loooooooong wait at my Post Office and dealing with the clerks who are understandably frustrated when I bring in a few dozen packages at once.

Now I'm impatient for an APC to be installed at my post office, so I send an email through the "Contact Us" link at usps.com every other day.  I've sent so many, in fact, that I received a response politely asking me not to send any more emails.  To which I responded that I'd be sending emails until an APC is installed, thankyouverymuch, unless they changed their link to "Contact Us Occasionally."

(Can the US Postal Service issue a restraining order on an individual?)  ~

Wednesday, July 16, 2008  Observing dialogue
My husband is a big fan of the show Rescue Me and I enjoy watching it with him--mostly because it gives me a lot of insight into the way that men communicate.  The dialogue in that show strikes me as very realistic. 

I'm not above eavesdropping on conversations when I'm out and about just to listen to how people communicate.  Eavesdropping on at least one side of a conversation is easy because so many people walk about with a cell phone glued to their ear, shouting at the person on the other end.  Here are a few observations I've made about dialogue that I use in my books:

1) People generally are poor communicators.  They meander, use too many words, use the wrong words, and repeat themselves.  I can show these shortcoming in dialogue in my book sparingly for effect, but I have to "pretty up" dialogue when I write it to speed things along. 

2) Men use about 1/10th the number of words that women use.

3) Men often don't even respond to a question, or respond to a question that wasn't even asked.  Women feel obligated to answer THE question that was asked, no matter how intrusive or how incriminating their answer might be.

4) Women "emote" more than men, saying "I feel" or "in my opinion"; men just state things without a caveat.

5) Teenagers don't make eye contact when they talk to each other.

6) If people like each other, they mirror each other's body language; when people don't like each other, they employ opposing body language.

Make it a point today to observe someone's dialogue when they speak to you--your coworker, the person waiting on you at lunch, the person next to you in exercise class.  What makes that person's dialogue different--their accent?  Word choice?  Inflection?  Tone?  Speed?  Volume?  The number of words they use?  And this is a good time to notice your own dialogue tics!  ~

Tuesday, July 15, 2008  Feeling bullish
Okay, so why has no one told me how amazing Red Bull is?  I knew the stuff would pep me up, but assumed it tasted like battery acid.  It tastes great!  I love it!  I love it!  I love it!  (Caffeine tends to make me repeat myself.)  I haven't tried the sugar-free version, but I have to think that without the combination of caffeine and sugar, it has to be somewhat less effective at keeping you alert.  Have also tried the Rock Star energy drink--that one tastes good, too.  Have looked for the Tab energy drink, but I'm not having any luck finding it at my groceries within walking distance.  After finally kicking my Diet Coke habit, I'm not going to get hooked on these bad boys, but I'm putting in long hours at the moment, and they're helping me through, so right now, they're my best friends!

(I've heard of writers taking their children's Ritalin when they're on deadline, and some writers have their own prescription for emergencies.  At the other extreme, I know a writer who lost her career when the diet drug Phen-Phen stole her focus and her short-term memory.)  ~

Monday, July 14, 2008  Putting an idea out in the universe:  Book Kiosks in Malls
So the other day I was walking through the mall on my way to my weekly critique meeting at a restaurant thinking what a shame that the bookstores have closed in so many malls in Atlanta, and how if I wanted a book to read, not a single store in the mall sells them.  So I wondered:

Why doesn't someone open a book kiosk in the mall?  Just a few spinner racks, or a display area small enough for one employee to man.  Chain bookstore or independent, you'd think they could make as much money selling bestsellers, books of local interest, and gift books as the people who sell clip-on hair pieces.

Borders and other chains already rent out space seasonally in the middle of malls to sell calendars...why wouldn't the model work year round for books in the malls where traditional bookstores have closed?  ~

Saturday, July 12, 2008  Harlequin offers "enriched" eBooks
Some publishers offer "extras" in the electronic version of a book--author interviews or maybe notes on research the author did for the story.  But Harlequin announced this week the launch of "enriched" eBooks with technical bells and whistles as a value-added experience for readers:

(Reprinted from eHarlequin.com)

Harlequin is the first publisher to release entirely enriched eBooks

Toronto, ON (July 9, 2008) - Harlequin Enterprises Limited, the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, announced today the launch of their Enriched Edition eBooks.  With this launch, Harlequin becomes the first publisher to offer entire eBooks that are enriched with interactive buttons that hyperlink to Web sites with more information about the content.

The launch title, UNMASKED by Nicola Cornick, a Regency-set historical available from www.eBooks.eHarlequin.com, has been enriched with interactive buttons that hyperlink to Web sites containing photos, historical commentaries, illustrations, sound effects, maps, articles and more, bringing the world of the novel to life without the reader having to leave the computer or the current screen page.  The interactive buttons have been designed to be unobtrusive, so if one prefers not to access the bonus material, the reading experience remains uninterrupted.

By exploiting the interactive possibilities inherent with eBooks, Harlequin is recognizing the opportunity for online reading to enhance the reading experience, evolving it above and beyond the replication of print books.

Harlequin will release select Enriched Edition titles from its many series and imprints, but chose to launch with a historical release since the period setting particularly lends itself to the enriched experience.  Obscure period details, customs, terms and references become instantly accessible should the reader wish to learn more about the story's context.

Enriched Edition eBooks are available at www.eBooks.eHarlequin.com and are being sold at the same price as regular eBooks.

~

Monday, July 7-Friday, July 11, 2008  BODY MOVERS all week!

All this week I'll be discussing the Body Movers series and 3 MEN AND A BODY (available Tuesday, July 29) on the eHarlequin Forums.  (The publisher of the series, Mira, is a Harlequin imprint.)  Would love to hear from you!  Click here to read the discussion and/or post a comment/question!  Do you want to know I develop/plot a series?  Writing questions are welcome, too!  (If you get lost trying to find the discussion, simply click on Forums across the top of the eHarlequin menu bar, then scroll down until you see a "Go To" button to take you directly to the 3 MEN AND A BODY discussion.)  ~

Friday, July 4, 2008  Happy Fourth!
My husband is running the Peachtree Road Race today, along with 54,999 other people, including Stevie G (hi, Steve!). It's a 10K (about 6 miles), famous for the uniquely designed T-Shirts every year.  (See this year's design to the right.)

It's a serious competition that includes a segment known as Cardiac Hill, but some people have run it so many times, they get creative year to year.  It's not uncommon to see people running dressed in costumes or themes.  It's just such a big, fun event for the city every year, with as many or more people cheering on the sidelines as there are people running.

Good luck and congratulations to all the Peachtree runners! 

And sigh, I couldn't have run even if I COULD stand the heat--I'm writing like a maniac trying to finish another manuscript.  In fact, I might disappear for the next few days until I get this one completed.  See you on the other side!  Have a great holiday weekend! 

(I WILL be chatting all next week though about the Body Movers series in a forum on eHarlequin.  Come back Monday morning for a link and follow or join the discussion when you can!  It's like an open house--you can drop in, scroll through the discussion if you want and/or post a question, then come back later for an update.)  ~

Thursday, July 3, 2008  Involve your family
When I give workshops, lots of writers tell me that their family members aren't supportive, and ask if I have any advice for improving the situation.  My advice is always the same--share your writing with your family.  And I don't mean asking or expecting them to read what you write.  If you have a spouse who's dismissive of your writing, ask for their help to plot story ideas when you take a walk or are riding in the car, or over dinner.  Or ask them to help you with a research aspect of the book--do they have expertise you can draw on?  If you have teenagers, do the same, or ask them to help you develop a character their age.  Or ask them to help you build and maintain a website.  And if you have little ones or 'tweens, they can help you bundle bookmarks or do odd jobs around your office--or you might get them started writing their own story!

If your spouse or children are resentful of your writing career, it's because they're jealous of the time you spend not tending to their needs.  And it's hard to blame them--life is good when you have someone taking care of you and keeping you entertained!  To reduce friction in your household, invite your family to participate in your career.  Go out of your way to involve them and let them know that you don't prefer writing over spending time with them, but that writing is important to you for you to feel balanced and happy.  Be magnanimous and approachable, persuasive and inclusive, but know that in the end, you can't MAKE a person be supportive.  Unless the person is a toddler, reconsider a relationship with someone who knows only how to take, and refuses to give.  Relationships are a two-way street--as your interests change and grow, the people who care about you should be willing to accept and support those interests.  But it's up to you to make them feel extra welcome inside your new world.  ~

Tuesday, July 1, 2008  Stumblin' in
Where have I been?  I hadn't heard of StumbleUpon--have you?  It's an online community of over 5 million members who recommend and rate products and services to each other.  I didn't know about it until a fellow writer  and friend said that she had "Stumbled" me, meaning that other members who registered similar interests will be exposed to my name and my book titles through her.  So cool!  It's word of mouth, magnified exponentially!  To join, you would download a StumbleUpon toolbar to your browser (it comes pre-loaded on some browsers), and start stumbling!  For more information, click here.  ~

Monday, June 30, 2008  Fire alarms
One of the drawbacks of living in a condo building and working at home is when the fire alarms in the building are being tested.  That would be today.  So I'm packing up and going to the bookstore to write.  On the way I'll stop by my gym to "wrilk" for an hour with my AlphaSmart on the treadmill.  A secret I learned early in my career is that you have to be able to write in almost any setting, and you have to seek out new settings if the one you're in isn't working. 

The same thing goes no matter where you work.  If you're feeling restless and unproductive in your office or cubicle, give it a makeover.  Get rid of clutter.  Take down family photos that might distract you and put up a cheery landscape or nature photo.  Add a plant or vase of flowers.  Change your chair or reposition your computer.  Add a white noise machine or buy earphones to insulate yourself and listen to soothing music while you're working on an intense project.  No matter what you do, work can become monotonous.  So if you can't change the work, change your work environment!  ~

Saturday, June 28, 2008  Just buy it
Okay, so I started to quote something else from the July issue of Prevention, but it's just such a great issue, you really should buy it.  Some of my favorite articles:  Magnify Your Brainpower, Live the Fat-Burning Life, The Good Enough Guide to Health, and 3 Decades of Beautiful Skin.  My mother gives me a subscription to Prevention every year for Christmas and I always enjoy it, but the July 2008 issue is a real keeper.  Love the "digest" size of the magazine, too.  Perfect to put in my bag and read while I'm standing in line at the Post Office.  (The Prevention.com website is great, too.)  ~

Friday, June 27, 2008  Why we're always smiling
If you're a woman, why you should be reading romance novels (and if you're a guy, why you should stop at the bookstore on the way home to buy a romance novel for your significant other):

Women who read romance novels make love with their partners
74% more often than do non-readers. (Psychology Today)

~

Thursday, June 26, 2008  How to get the best deals on books
If you're reading this blog, you're probably a booklover.  And while books are still a great entertainment value compared to the admission to a movie (or the price of gas!), books aren't cheap, especially if  you buy as many as I do!  As someone who makes her living writing novels and privy to how many other writers are trying to make a living at this job, too, I STRONGLY urge you not to buy books used, unless it's a book that's out of print.  Why?  Because when you buy a used book in a bookstore or online, neither the author nor the publisher receives a royalty--100% of the proceeds go to the used bookseller.  (Note:  Many used book stores sell new books, too; authors and publishers do receive a royalty on new books sold in used bookstores, so support your local used bookseller, but please buy books new!  Especially if your favorite author isn't a mega-star.)

That said, how can you get good deals on NEW books?

Buy pre-release!  Lots of brick and mortar and online bookstores offer an extra discount if you pre-order a book because they know it's already sold!

Buy within 2 weeks of a book's release.  Publishers are most concerned about sales early in a book's sales cycle, so you're likely to get a good deal on a book if you buy it as soon as it arrives in stores.

Join a store's membership club.  All the big chains and many independent bookstores have special deals for members--readers who take the time to fill out a form and register for the club.  Usually there's no charge.  Bookstores offer free membership because it allows them to market to you, and they know you're more likely to become loyal to their store if they market to you regularly.  If you provide an email address, you'll receive coupons regularly, especially around the holidays.

Buy often!  Some clubs allow you to earn gift cards and deeper discounts depending on the level of your accumulated purchases.  But just shopping more often also exposes you to clearance sales and limited-time offers that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Join a mail order bookclub.  (Also called direct-to-consumer clubs.)  You're probably familiar with Doubleday, which prints its own hardcover versions of popular books and sells them to its bookclub member for less than traditional hardcover prices.  Harlequin offers bookclubs for almost all of their lines.  I belong to the Mira Books mystery and suspense bookclub.  Every month I receive about 4 books chosen for me (which I love because it exposes me to new authors), and I get the books at 30% off the cover price.  AND they're delivered right to my door!

Check out the publisher's website.  Many publishers are now selling their own books and offer great discounts and clearance sales.  Sign up for their mailing lists to be notified of special offers.

If you shop online, hold out for free shipping!  Most online bookstores offer discounts on the cover price of books, plus free shipping if you reach a minimum purchase threshold.

Ask for deals!  Ask bookstores if they offer special discounts for teachers, students, retirees, etc. 

Take advantage of regular specials.  Many chain bookstores offer Buy 3, Get the 4th Book Free deals at the same time every year, or discounts to educators just before school starts, etc.

Want FREE books?  Many authors (like me!) run contests on their websites for book giveaways.  You can't win if  you don't enter!  Enter Stephanie's monthly contest.   ~

Wednesday, June 25, 2008  Read for more enjoyment
There's a great article in the July issue of Prevention magazine called "Magnify Your Brainpower" by Ann Hettinger about how to improve your focus and concentration.  One of the "problems" the author addresses is what to do if you keep rereading the same passages in a book.  The suggestions are to read actively by taking breaks to mentally recap the plot or a character's motive.  Also to read backward a paragraph at a time for a page or two--reading paragraphs out of order will make your mind work harder.  But I like the next piece of advice best:  Give up on dull books!  If the book hasn't captured your interest within the first few chapters, put it down and find one that will!

When I hear people say that they don't like to read, I always suggest that perhaps they haven't found anything to read that interests them.  I used to be the kind of reader who felt compelled to finish reading a book even if I didn't like it, but not these days.  What's the saying?  So many books, so little time.  I give a book 50 pages, and if it hasn't grabbed me, it goes back on my shelf with a bookmark on page 50.  I'll give that book another chance on another day because I know sometimes you have to be in a certain mood to read a certain type of book, but if I pick it up the second time and it still doesn't grab me, it goes into my giveaway box!  The point is, there are SO many good books out there.  Don't let an unfortunate or unlucky choice of reading material convince you that you don't like to read--keep sampling!  ~

Tuesday, June 24, 2008  New book!
Today is the release date for the reprint of 2 Bodies for the Price of 1 in regular-sized paperback.  If you missed it last year in trade paperback or just prefer the smaller format, I hope you'll check it out.  Book 2 in the Body Movers series picks up where book 1 left off--Carlotta Wren is still working for Neiman Marcus by day and helping her brother move bodies from crime scenes by night!  Publishers Weekly gave this book a starred review, which I'm very proud of:

“Bond keeps the pace frantic, the plot tight and the laughs light, and supplies a cliffhanger ending that’s a bargain at twice the price.”

A shout-out to my husband, Christopher Hauck, who was kind enough to give me a cover quote:

"What a great book!  I'm really glad my wife made me read it!" 
--Stephanie's husband

If you remember, the first Body Movers book had a cover quote from another unbiased reader:

"This is the best book I've ever read!" --Stephanie's mother

What started as a joke when my husband and I created a mock cover for the first book to send to the publisher's art department turned into a marketing hook--my first grade teacher was kind enough to lend a quote for 3 Men and a Body!

As a reminder, since the Body Movers series is a "hybrid" mystery series with mystery AND romance, it could be shelved almost anywhere in your book store (general fiction section in Barnes & Nobles, romance section in Borders and Waldenbooks, mystery section in most independent stores), so if you don't see it, please ASK!  If you shop online, here's a link to purchase the book from Amazon.com, here's one for BarnesandNoble.com, and here's one for Borders.com.  (Strangely, an image loading and saving error resulted in the online stores showing this book with a white cover, but it is, indeed, green.)  Many thanks for your support!  ~

Monday, June 23, 2008  "Stacked" book releases
My last book, 2 Bodies for the Price of 1, was an Aug 2007 book.  After a 10-month gap, I'll have six books released in the next 6 months.  And next year, I will again have books released in succession.  Publishers have come to realize that it's more advantageous for authors to have their books released back to back--it creates more of a "buzz" among booksellers and readers to see the author's name again and again in a short period of time.  It creates excitement and interest.  From an author's standpoint, it's great in terms of streamlining self-promotion; I can send out one bookseller mailing to promote all the releases at once, ditto for ads and bookmarks that mention all the releases.  The down side is that it makes for close deadlines--all the books are due back to back, too!  It can make for a manic work period.  But overall, I'm in favor of having books released close together, especially when the books are related; tomorrow the small paperback reprint of 2 Bodies for the Price of 1 will be released, strategically, one month before the release of 3 Men and a Body, the newest book in the Body Movers series.  And later this year (end of September, end of October, and end of November), I'll have 3 related Harlequin Blaze novels released in a "Sex for Beginners" trilogy.  So if a writer is prolific enough to supply books back to back, it can be a great career move.  And readers seem to approve!  ~

Sunday, June 22, 2008  Repetition sells
Advertisers know that the key to selling something (an idea or a product) is to flood the market with "impressions."  The more positive impressions a consumer is exposed to, the more likely they'll buy it, invest in it, accept it, believe it.  The surge in viewership for cable TV shows, in my opinion, can be directly linked to the amount of advertising they do for their shows.  TNT and USA not only push their new series shows, but they do so while playing repeats of the old episodes over and over (and over).  All-day "marathons" of shows are common.  They know that when viewers become familiar with characters, the setting, theme songs, etc., they're more likely to become invested in and watch new episodes.  NBC, ABC, and CBS can't capitalize on this format because they've built their business on providing mostly new content, while syndicating old episodes of their shows out to other networks.  (I should add here that many times, they own these other networks.)  But their ratings for new shows are suffering.

How many times have you heard about a new TV show on a regular network and then...it's over before you even got a chance to see it?  You forgot when it was supposed to come on or you forgot to watch it, and the network killed it after 2 episodes for lousy ratings.  Ditto for a feature film that you heard advertise once or twice--it's gone from the theater almost before you knew it was there!  To combat this day-late-and-a-dollar-short phenomenon that affects all of us because we're bombarded with SO many images, not only does TNT and USA bombard viewers with advertisements for their shows often, but they also do it EARLY.  USA began advertising Debra Messing's The Starter Wife TV movie/mini-series months before it actually aired.  Ditto for their new shows Burn Notice and In Plain Sight.  Same for TNT with The Closer and Saving Grace.  Two months or more of hyping a show and its start-date actually sinks in, resulting in unprecedented numbers of viewers tuning in.

So if you're a writer or a singer or a teacher or a preacher, know that repetition is what will sell your product or your idea.  Repetition early, and often.

Tomorrow:  Along a similar vein (and uppermost in my mind at the moment), the benefits of having several books out in a short period of time!  ~

Saturday, June 21, 2008  Atlanta Beltline Tour
This morning I took a 3-hour chartered bus tour of the Atlanta Beltline Project, which is a public transportation system that will supplement the existing heavy-rail train system (MARTA) by running light-rail trains, trolleys, and buses on the "beltline," a strip of land that the city (mostly) owns that was once a right-of-way for the railroad.  The Beltline Project is based on the thesis of a GA Tech grad student who first proposed that the city use the existing (and mostly abandoned) right-of-way to build an in-city transportation system, but has since snowballed into a comprehensive plan that integrates mobility with the parks system, an arboretum, plus water management projects, while linking all the disparate historical areas of the city.  In other words, the Beltline is the last best chance for Atlanta to become a true pedestrian-friendly city while refurbishing areas of Atlanta that most people don't even know exist.  (When you fly into Atlanta, it's clear from the aerial view how much of the city is undeveloped or under-developed.)  If you live in the Atlanta area, I highly recommend that you take The Beltline Tour.  It's free, but you do need to make reservations.  (If you're considering moving to Atlanta, this would be a great tour to work into your fact-finding trip.)  It will make you SO excited about where this city is headed!  ~

Thursday, June 19, 2008  Word Choice
I ran across this article yesterday on word choice--it has to do with phrases to use (and not to use) in sales calls, but thought it demonstrated very well the point that word choice makes a big difference in getting your point across in a way that the other person will respond to--something that everyone should be aware of, but especially writers.  Check it out:  How Your Choice of Words and Phrases Can Make or Break a Sale.  ~

Wednesday, June 18, 2008  It's the little things
I've really tried this year to be more eco-conscious.  I truly believe that everyone wants to do things that are good for the environment, but many don't have the means or the time or the space to do things like install solar shields on their roof or create a compost pile.  And many people don't have access to recycling centers.  Still, I like to do what I can.  I don't have a car, by choice--I use public transportation and I walk everywhere.  My living space is small.  I refuse to buy bottled water (I'm still working on my husband).  And I take my own canvas bags to the grocery.   I think it's the little things that a person does that can make a big difference--especially if we're all doing them.  I love this article on little things you can do for the environment.  (After you click on the link, you have to scroll down past the advertisements.)  ~

Tuesday, June 17, 2008  Book formats
Within the industry, different terms are tossed around for the different formats of books.  I'm guilty of sometimes using those terms with readers, and receiving blank looks.  Writers should be familiar with book formats, and with more books being ordered online, it's good for readers to know the difference between formats so they know what they'll be getting!  Here's a rundown of common book formats for fiction:

Hardcover   Also called "hardback," this is a book with a hard cover and dust jacket, and usually features acid-free (non-yellowing) paper, which is why it's more expensive, $22-$25 or more.

Petite hardcover  A smaller sized hardcover with a lower price point.  Also called "gift hardcover," and is popular for holiday books.  Price point $13-$20.

Mass market paperback  Also called just "paperback" or "pulp" paperback or "pocket book," this is the regular sized paperback that most of us are familiar with in the U.S., with a price range of $3-$8.  Pulp paper is used, so pages of mass market books will eventually yellow if exposed to light.

Trade paperback  An oversized paperback; if it features acid-free paper, it's also called a "cloth" or "quality" paperback.  Can also feature pulp paper.  Price range $9-$16.

Premium paperback  This book is the same width as a mass market paperback, but is slightly taller, with pulp paper.  This format allows for wider margins and a larger font than a regular mass market paperback.  Price point, about $10.

Petite paperback  This book is about 4" x 6" (the size of a photo) and are typically targeted toward young adult readers.  Might feature either acid-free paper (makes for a small, heavy book) or pulp paper.  More popular in countries outside the U.S.

Audio book  A spoken abridged (condensed) or unabridged (word for word) version of a book, recorded in a studio.  Because of talent and production costs, audio books are more expensive than printed books.

eBook  An electronic read-only computer file of a book that might be specific to a handheld device (such as the Amazon Kindle), or a more general electronic format (such as PDF), that can be read on a desktop or laptop computer, or on a handheld device.  The eBook format is typically priced the same as the most recently released printed format of the book, but is attractive to readers for immediacy and portability.  ~

Monday, June 16, 2008  30 minutes at a time
When I need to jumpstart my writing, I reach for a kitchen timer.  I have an inexpensive model, the kind that clicks loudly as it winds down.  I set it for 30 minutes, and see how much writing I can get done before the bell rings.  Without fail, it always gets me going.  I use my timer for working out, too--I set it on the landing of the stairs in my building when I walk the stairs for exercise.  I use my timer for lots of things throughout the day--straightening my desk, cleaning, etc.  Working under the gun (the ticking clock) adds an element of immediacy to any task, and gets your adrenaline going.  Plus it's fun!  Using a timer is also a great trick for getting a group to brainstorm the solution to a problem, and for motivating kids!  Invest in an inexpensive kitchen timer and tackle the items on your to-do list at work and at home--30 minutes at a time!  ~

Friday, June 13, 2008  My Boys return
I like the TBS sitcom My Boys.  The heroine PJ is an appealing, attractive sports writer who hangs with the guys (her brother and five male friends).  They all play poker together and hang out at a sports bar.  PJ's best friend is a girly girl named Stephanie who tries to keep PJ from being TOO much of a tomboy.  Last season Stephanie convinced PJ to go to Italy with her; they each got buy one, get one free airfare, so they were each supposed to invite a guy.  So many of the shows last season dealt with PJ and Stephanie dating new guys and old boyfriends and trying to figure out which guy they would invite.  PJ scrupulously avoided Bobby, one of her regular "boys" (and fellow sports writer) with whom she'd had a one-night stand and then things fell apart for no particular reason, the way that some relationships do.  Of course I'm rooting for Bobby, especially after learning halfway through the season that he's from a very wealthy family, which he was trying to keep on the down-low!  But since there were several guys in and out of PJ's life over the season, the viewers were left hanging when PJ is on sitting on the plane, waiting for her mystery man to arrive...

(Spoiler alert.)  It was Bobby!  And he started the trip off right by upgrading both of their seats to first class.  The trip didn't go exactly as PJ hoped however, because Stephanie and her guy argued and Stephanie was the third wheel all week, keeping PJ and Bobby from taking their relationship to the next level. 

On the plane trip back, Bobby also upgraded Stephanie to first class, so she was STILL in the way.  Then she announced to PJ that they should do something big with their lives, and she knew just what--they should each write a book!  (I groaned.)  Then Stephanie whipped out a notebook and started scribbling, saying she already had an idea.  Fast forward to a few days later and Stephanie announces to PJ that she finished her book!  (I groaned again--it was beyond ridiculous.)  But I suspect that Stephanie, who is deeply in credit card debt, is going to sell her book for a lot of money and that the book will be about all their friends (including PJ and Bobby) to create all kinds of friction among the group.  That's just my guess...stay tuned.

So, just to recap:  Writing a novel should take less than a year (see yesterday's post), but will probably take longer than a week!  ~ 

Thursday, June 12, 2008  Hamster wheel?
I thought this article in the Boston Globe was interesting about successful writers feeling pressured to write a book a year.  Had to laugh at Dennis Lehane's reference to producing one book a year as being on a "hamster wheel."  Just to be clear:  A commercial novel is typically 350-400 double-spaced manuscript pages.  To produce one novel a year, a writer has to write about one double-spaced page a day...a few paragraphs...250 words...about the size of this post. 

Whew--someone get me off this hamster wheel before I keel over!

Laughable, too, is the author who said that all writers were grousing about increased production, and how producing one book a year was just too much pressure.

Have these people never held any other kind of job?

Just more proof that writers are the only players in the book industry who don't treat it like a business.  Publishers, editors, and booksellers all do, but writers--not so much.  Keep grousing, big name author, about having to write a few paragraphs a day to keep up with your "grueling" contract demands; when readers forget about you and you're cut from the list, the publisher will be able to choose from hundreds of other authors who will cheerfully meet their "demands."  This isn't open-heart surgery, folks--this is commercial fiction.  Get over yourself.

Am glad, though, that the author of this article also interviewed authors who don't have a problem with and, in fact, want to write more than one book a year to grow their audience and to satisfy their loyal readers.

Top Writers Feel Heat From Publishers' Presses by David Mehegan. ~

Wednesday, June 11, 2008  How's it hanging?
In my opinion, one of the most effective commercials in recent memory is the one where a kid is jumping off a diving board and suddenly the frame freezes. Then his head spins around to the camera and he says something like, "Remember me?  I've been hanging out in your camera for months now waiting to be developed."  The commercial goes on to advertise getting your digital pictures developed easily and quickly.  GREAT commercial.

And it's an image I think about when I'm dreading getting back to a story.  If I'm procrastinating, I know something is wrong--I don't have something figured out, or a character isn't behaving properly.  My hesitation is usually a symptom of something that needs to be fixed.  How do I make myself tackle it head on?  I remind myself that until I get in and resolve the problem, I'm leaving my characters "hanging" in midair.  Sometimes that image alone is enough to get me moving again.

I've been absent from my blog finishing a project--tomorrow, I'm starting another new manuscript!  Whew!  Hope you're having a productive week, too.  ~

Thursday, June 5, 2008  Losing track of time
I woke up this morning and had no idea what day of the week it was.  I'm in the throes of finishing a manuscript, which always leaves me a little disoriented.  (Although I could tell you what day it is in my story!)  When my schedule gets erratic, when I'm up at all hours, eating and exercising at bizarre times, I wonder what my neighbors must think of me.  And I worry about my unkempt appearance--if there was a fire, I'd have to run outside in exercise pants, flip-flops, a T-shirt/night shirt, wearing a bandana tied around my head, and clinging to my laptop, of course.

Am hoping to finish my manuscript late today, so I'm primed for an afternoon writing marathon.  Will rejoin civilization this weekend, hopefully. Hope you're having a good, productive day! ~

Tuesday, June 3, 2008  Give when you shop
Do you shop online?  I do!  Which is why I love this idea:  An organization called Maatiam has collaborated with top online retailers and charitable organizations to help you donate to the organizations you support-simply by shopping!  It's simple--you go to Maatiam.com, sign up, pick an organization to which you'd like a portion of your online purchases to benefit, and shop!  In the future, when you go to your online retailer, all you have to do is go through your "portal" and a portion of everything you spend goes to your chosen organization.  You still pay the same amount, have access to the same sales, etc.!  It's easy--and it's the right thing to do!  Check it out.  ~

Monday, June 2, 2008  "No problem" can be a problem
Talk to writers long enough and you will begin to hear a common refrain:  "People keep pulling at me and asking me to do things!  I don't have time to write!"

The same is true for most women (writers or not), who are called upon not only to work, but also to be the primary caregiver of their family (and extended family).  Toss in volunteering for your children's school, your church, and your community, and that leaves precious little time for your own extra-curricular activities. 

But here's something I've noticed whether it's inside or outside the workplace:  The people who get dumped on most are the people who don't value their own time.  How can you tell?  They're the person who, at the end of delivering a big project (paid or volunteer), when thanked by a superior or by the person who conned them into doing the work in the first place, they respond, "No problem."

I once worked with a woman who was asked by her superior to take on a project that was left undone when a peer went on maternity leave.  She knew it would mean a LOT of extra work for not a penny more money, but she agreed, hoping it would earn her bonus points when it came promotion time.  For the next few months, she practically slept in her office to do both her job and to take care of the extra project.  I saw the hours she put in because my office was in proximity to hers.  It took its toll on her health and on her family life.  At the end of that grueling time, I was in the staff meeting where the woman's superior thanked her for taking on the extra work.  And what was the woman's response?  "No problem."  I couldn't believe my ears--her superior hadn't been privy to all the long hours she'd put in; by the woman waving off the work as "no problem," she left her superior with the impression that she'd been able to absorb the extra work into her schedule at no sacrifice.  (Implying that she hadn't been that busy in the first place.)  When promotion time came, she was passed over.  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  By saying, "No problem," she might as well have said, "My time isn't important."

The point is, when people ask you to do something that takes your precious time and you agree to do it, it's okay to let them know what you had to sacrifice to get it done.  When they say, "Thanks," it's appropriate to respond with something like, "Glad I was able this time around to devote the extra hours to the project that it required." or "I'm glad you appreciate the result because I had to give up weekends with my family to get it done."  Maybe verbalizing the sacrifice will help you more carefully weigh future requests for your time.

If you're the person in your family/office/organization who constantly gets dumped on, try striking "No problem" from your vocabulary.  ~

Sunday, June 1, 2008  I've fallen in love...with jumping rope!
Because I spend so much time on my derriere, I'm always looking for ways to rev my metabolism and mental acuity during a long stretch of writing, and I've found my solution:  jumping rope!  For less than $15, you can buy a quality jump rope (I recommend weighted handles) at a sporting goods store and in only five minutes, get your brain and your blood moving!  What's great about jumping rope is that it doesn't take a lot of skill or equipment, and not much room.  Plus it's portable and you can do it almost anywhere--your living room, office, on a patio or sidewalk, or even in a hotel room.  I used to jump rope when I was little and have flirted over the years with working it into my exercise program.  My mistake was trying to replace a 30-minute run on the treadmill with 30 minutes of jumping rope.  30 minutes of jumping rope is HARD!  So now I do it in short segments.  When I get up in the morning, I jump rope for five minutes--that's about 300 revolutions, at 1 revolution per second, enough to get your heart pumping!  Throughout the day I'll jump for another five minutes here and there.  It never fails to give me a mental boost.  If you have little ones at home who don't understand why you have to work/write instead of play with them, take jumping rope breaks and get everyone jumping!  Another bonus:  Jumping rope is great to get the circulation moving in the lower body--crucial for those of us with sedentary jobs.  You gals might like to know that the act of jumping actually makes your bones stronger to help ward off osteoporosis.  Tip:  When you jump, make sure you land on both feet so that both knees absorb the impact.  For more benefits of jumping rope, click here!  ~

Friday, May 30, 2008  The things that go by
I love sitting outside on my covered balcony to work.  The traffic is usually light except when the Fox Theater is loading or unloading a show.  And there's quite a bit of pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks because in addition to living next to the Fox, my building is next to a train station and two of the tallest office buildings in Atlanta.  It's fascinating to watch people from this height--most of them have no idea I'm up here, of course.  It's the most fun when they bus in school kids to see shows at the Fox--you can't imagine the noise!  It sounds like a million bees have descended on our street as thousands of little bodies make their way to the theater, hands chained together while their teachers are trying to keep everyone together and moving forward.  I see lots of things from up here that make my imagination run wild.  Yesterday a guy went by carrying a coat rack painted Day-Glo orange!  At first I thought maybe it was some kind of prop for a show at the Fox, but no, he passed the theater and kept walking.  I thought about that orange coat rack all day.  ~

Thursday, May 29, 2008  3:00 in the morning
People often ask me what it takes to be a writer.  I usually respond with three things:  decent keyboarding skills, a thick skin, and the ability to multi-task.  Today, I'm multi-tasking:  I'm finishing the manuscript for the last book in my Harlequin Blaze Sex for Beginners trilogy, No Peeking... (Dec 2008).  But I had to take a break from the manuscript to review galleys (page proofs) for the first Sex for Beginners book, Watch and Learn (Oct 2008).  And I just received revision notes for a novella I wrote for the 2009 More Than Words collection that benefits five charitable organizations. (I do have some time to turn those around.) Meanwhile, it just occurred to me that I really should be thinking about promotion for books I have coming out in the latter part of this year!  This business can be a bit manic...feast or famine, so to speak.  Or, in the famous words of Jerry Reed, "when you're hot, you're hot, and when you're not, you're not."

(Speaking of manic, I realized yesterday that I have 15 books coming out in the next 19 months.  Advance apologies to friends and family who won't see me at all this summer.  I promise to rejoin civilization in October...ish.)

If I seem to be rambling today, it's because I'm operating on little sleep.  But despite the sometimes manic nature of the business, I truly love this job.  As far as the long hours, I remind myself that there were lots of times I was up at 3:00 a.m. working when I had my corporate job--at least now when I'm up at 3:00 a.m., I'm working for myself!  ~

Wednesday, May 28, 2008  What a pain in the neck
When I've been working on my laptop for too many hours (like now), the back of my neck aches.  I admit that my posture has slipped in the last few years, and that's because I move around with my laptop to keep from being bored.  Now I'm really trying to check my sitting position no matter where I work and be more cognizant of pulling my shoulders back, etc.  And to combat the neck pain, I found this exercise that really helps.  My greatest fear is to look like Jack Klugman when I get old, with a rounded back and jutting neck.  (I'm a HUGE Quincy fan, but that man's bad posture is rivaled only by David too-sexy-for-my-sunglasses Caruso.)

A writing friend uses her television as her monitor, which allows her to sit in a chair or a recliner and keep her head up to write.  And she says it's great on her eyes because the type is so nice and big.  What a great idea!

No matter what your occupation, if you have a home office, be diligent about investing in a good chair and other equipment to make it not only comfortable, but injury-preventive.  (If you're avoiding your home office space, it might be a sign that it's not conducive to work.)  Pay attention to pains in your neck, back, shoulders and legs; take a couple of breaks during the day to realign everything.  ~

Monday, May 26, 2008  Happy Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day, everyone!  Hope you are flying your flag to honor all the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces, but especially to honor those who gave their lives to defend the freedoms we enjoy in this magnificent country of ours.  For some interesting tidbits about the American flag, including proper handling, folding, and display, click here.  Have a wonderful day full of gratitude and kind words for your neighbors.  ~

Sunday, May 25, 2008  More than you bargained for?
So you wanted to be a writer, an artist, an actor, a singer, an attorney, a doctor, an accountant, a circus performer...but it just turned out to be more than you bargained for?  Too much training?  Too much work?  Too much rejection?  Just too much? 

Come on--did you really think it was going to be easy?  If it were easy, that would sorely reduce your accomplishment, wouldn't it? 

If there's something you want to do in life (lose weight? learn another language? travel?), take one tiny step today--maybe that means writing it down or telling someone about it.  Maybe that means researching a class or ordering a book on the subject.  Writer Annie Lamott wrote a great book called Bird by Bird.  It's about writing, but also about life.  I heard Annie speak once about where the title of the book came from--her brother brought home a school assignment that had to do with drawing and writing a report on every state bird, which seemed like a monumental task to him.  When he asked his father how he was going to do the assignment, his father replied, "Just take it bird by bird."  Click here to order.  ~

Saturday, May 24, 2008  Only you can do the research
Oops--sorry.  I was supposed to post yesterday about the:  "I'm not going to do your homework for you" comment.  (Thanks to those of you who emailed to remind me.) 

At the conference I attended last weekend, a published writer related the story of attending a workshop in the beginning of her career.  When someone in the audience raised their hand and asked, "But where do I send my manuscript?" the writer flatly responded, "I'm not going to do your homework for you."  The now-published writer said at the time she thought, "What a witch."  But now, years later, she understands the writer's response.  It might have seemed a bit abrupt, but it was the best advice the person asking the question could have gotten if she was open to it.  What the writer leading the workshop meant is that once the manuscript is finished, there are LOTS of decisions to make:

• Is my manuscript ready for submission?

• Which publishing house should I send it to?

• Which editor within the house should I send it to?

• What submission format does the editor prefer?

• Do I need an agent? (Which brings up another entire set of questions.)

Frankly, most published authors are so busy with their own work, they don't have time to evaluate your work and help you find a place for it.  (You do realize, don't you, that when you ask a published author for help in finding a place for your manuscript that you're asking them to help their own competition, right?  We're generally a pretty sharing bunch, but check your expectations.)  On the surface it might be nice if someone told you what you needed to do with your finished manuscript...but then does that person really know what they're talking about and do they have your best interests at heart?  What if that person is wrong and you waste months or years pursuing the wrong channels? 

In short, only you can do the research to find out where you need to send your manuscript.  The good news is that with the Internet and the explosion of writing groups and conferences, research is easier now than when I got into the business, that's for sure.  There is a sense from new writers that veteran writers have a "clique" and that we don't want to share the "secret handshake."  But the truth is that a new writer's willingness to do their own research might be the single most telling attribute as to whether they will have a successful writing career.

Once at a cocktail party a guy announced to me that he had a manuscript he'd been working on for years, but he "just didn't have the time" to find out where he needed to send it.  "So why don't I give it to you and let you take care of it for me?" he suggested.  I just looked at him and said, "The thing is, I sort of have my own career to take care of.  But wow, good luck with it."  ~

Friday, May 23, 2008  Find a support group
Writing is a very solitary occupation, but that doesn't mean you have to go it alone.  Joining a writers group that meets regularly can be a great source of camaraderie and inspiration.  To find a list of writers groups in your area, check the Internet and newspapers, or ask at public libraries, universities, and bookstores.  And shop around--make sure your goals mesh with other members of the group.  Some groups, for example, are more about reading and socializing than writing (which is fine).  Just know what you're looking for.

When I first started writing, I unwittingly joined an academic, literary writing group.  The members focused on poetry and experimental fiction for their own entertainment and self-fulfillment.  When they learned I wanted to write, horror of horrors, commercial fiction, they were appalled.  And when I told them I actually wanted to make a living at it, they had a collective stroke and promptly held an intervention to try to talk me out of "selling out."  I couldn't revoke my membership fast enough.  I'm sure those women are still meeting, sitting cross-legged and holding hands as they discuss their latest work of genius.  It just wasn't my thing.

Can't find a writers group that fits your needs?  Start one!  There are probably other writers in your area who are looking for the same kind of support.  ~

Thursday, May 22, 2008  Feeling overwhelmed
There were several new writers at the conference I attended last weekend and it was apparent that as the agent, editor, and various writers presented workshops, the newbies were feeling overwhelmed with all the how-to and industry information being thrown at them.  It's easy to feel that way in the beginning.  But keep in mind that attending a conference when you've just begun writing is a little like tuning into a TV series that is well underway.  At first, you'll be confused, but the more you watch (and learn), things will begin to fall into place-you'll soon be able to identify players in the industry, while picking up tips to improve your writing skills.

Tomorrow:  "I'm not going to do your homework for you," she said vehemently.  ~ 

Wednesday, May 21, 2008  Setting goals
I was at a writing conference last weekend and had the pleasure of attending a workshop given by multi-published authors Holly Jacobs and Susan Gable.  Their workshop was titled Writing:  It's Not a Sprint; It's a Never-Ending Marathon with Hurdles.

So true!  Holly and Susan did a great job of talking about writing career as a long-term experience, over which there will most certainly be ups and downs.  They mentioned goal-setting, and Holly stressed a crucial point:  Set a goal that is within your control.  Holly gave the example of a goal such as "I'm going to sell my manuscript by the end of the year." is not something you can control.  But "I'm going to finish my manuscript by the end of the year." or "I'm going to submit my manuscript to six publishing houses by the end of the year." is within your control. 

Over the next few days, I'm going to talk about how to keep going in the face of adversity.  ~ 

Tuesday, May 20, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Your attitude about writing love scenes definitely plays a part in how the love scenes turn out.  If you're tentative about writing them, they'll probably read that way, and vice versa.  My writing friend Suzan asserts that love scenes come easy for her because she's a Scorpio!  No matter your sign and your reservations, though, writing love scenes is like having sex--the more you do it, the better you get at it!  The better you become at judging and executing everything on the checklist I posted yesterday.

Remember, if you're writing a romance novel, readers will be reading it for the romance and the love scenes.  Don't disappoint them!  Take the extra time and care to craft delicious love scenes that will make the reader sigh.  ~

Monday, May 19, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Critiquing love scenes can be tricky because it can seem a little too personal.  Here's a checklist to help edit your own love scenes or critique someone else's:

• Are the transitions (before, during, and after) smooth?

• Are the logistics clear--and believable?

• Is the language appropriate (yours and the characters')?

• Is the scene told in the point of view of the person who has the most at stake?

• Are the characters behaving "in character"?

• Does the love scene progress the external conflict and/or the internal conflict?

• Is this love scene somehow more important than the previous love scene(s)?

• Is the emotional intensity appropriate for this love scene?

• Does the scene work with the pacing of the story?   ~

Friday, May 16, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
After yesterday's post about why you can't let other people's squeamish feelings about you writing sex scenes get in your way, there are times when someone close to you wants to buy your book to support you, but you know that for whatever reason explicit love scenes are not their thing?  I simply thank them and hand them the book, then touch their hand and say, "Some parts of the book are a little steamy, so if you get to a part that makes you uncomfortable, don't be afraid to skim."  That seems to save everyone!

(This doesn't work for critique groups, though.  Next time--how to critique love scenes.)  ~

Thursday, May 15, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Continuing with your comments and questions regarding love scenes:

Robin says, "I'm leery of writing explicit love scenes because of how my friends and relatives might react when they read the book."

I'm SO glad someone brought up this very common concern.  Psst, Robin, lean closer.  "Guess what?  Your friends and your relatives all have sex."

That's right--barring the fluky priest acquaintance, most adults have sex.  And your ninety-eight-year-old grandmother?  She used to have sex (or still might be having it, for all we know).  Don't get caught up in what your parents, siblings, coworkers, neighbors, or friends might think of you for writing sensual love scenes--IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS. 

If you're worried about what your minor children might think, remember that they won't be reading your books.

If you're worried about what your adult children might think, remember that no matter what, you're the parent and they're the child.  You trump.  And are they really your reading audience?

If you're worried about what your children's teacher or your husband's boss might think, I repeat:  IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS.  What we do is not only legal but is protected by the first amendment.  Plus, this is fiction!  It's entertainment, folks!  And even explicit love scenes in a romance novel take place between two monogamous people who end up in a committed relationship by the end of the book.

Will some people make derogatory comments?  Probably, because people can't help but be rude/jealous/tear other people down/make a joke to get a laugh.  So be ready with responses like:

"Yes, my novels contain sex scenes, along with scenes about lots of other normal, healthy life experiences."

"Yes, I write about sex.  You don't like sex?"

"Yes, but my characters don't bed hop.  My books are actually cleaner than a lot of daytime soap operas."

The only time I'm reluctant to let someone read my books is if they're a young teenager.  If a teenager shows up at a booksigning, I will usually hand the book to their mother and suggest that she read it first and decide if it's appropriate for her daughter.

And if you're caught up worrying that people might think you're writing about your own love life, I repeat:  THIS IS FICTION.  There's no reason for anyone to think that the love scenes in your book are based more on real life than any other scene in your book!  And if someone (usually dirty old men) slyly asks if the book is any indication of your own sex life, just smile and say, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to collect a royalty."  ~

Wednesday, May 14, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Continuing with tips regarding love scenes:

You can use a love scene to slow or speed up the pace of your story.  If your story is a fast-paced suspense, a love scene is a great way and a great reason to slow down the action of the plot and give the reader (as well as the characters) a break from the external conflict.  (But be aware that a love scene usually ratchets up the internal conflict.) 

Conversely, if you've reached a saggy part of the story and want to snag the reader's attention again, I always recommend the 4 K's--kiss someone, kick someone, canoodle someone, or kill someone.  Since 2 of the 4 K's (okay, one "c"), have to do with love scenes, it's a safe bet that a love scene will pick up the pace again!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I include color-coded love scenes in my detailed chapter outline--if your synopsis is just lying there, don't forget to incorporate the love scenes!  And if you're in the middle of your manuscript and struggling to find something interesting to write for your next scene, an impromptu sex scene might be just the thing to spice things up!   ~

Tuesday, May 13, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Continuing with comments and questions that you've sent regarding love scenes:

Julie says:  "I'm never quite sure how to start love scenes.  Any tips?"

If it's any consolation, I'd say most writers have the same problem:  How to take the characters from simply sitting or standing around to being in bed together!  I think it's important to "plan" the escalation of/to the love scenes just as you would any element of the book.  (When I write my working synopsis/chapter outline, I put the parts having to do with the romance/love scenes in a red font, so I can tell in a glance what kind of buildup I'll have.  Then I think of the encounter in terms of escalation:  a glance, an accidental brush, an intentional touch, a kiss, an erotic embrace, etc.  And know that if you skip a "step," it automatically ratchets up the sexual tension (if, for example, there's an accidental brush first--such as in an elevator--before they even make eye contact!).

The biggest trap is getting caught up in the idea that love scenes shouldn't be plotted--absolutely, they should be, so they don't seem "dropped in" or jarring to your reader.  More about using love scenes to help pace your story tomorrow.  ~

Thursday, May 8, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Continuing with comments and questions that you've sent regarding love scenes:

Jeanette asks:  "Does your editor ever edit/change your love scenes?"

Ah--a very insightful question.  The answer is yes!  Of course she edits my love scenes for clarity and flow.  And sometimes she does change words, depending on if they're right for the line and if she thinks it feels right for the scene.  For example, a hero might use a different word to refer to his anatomy versus what the heroine would think or say.  My editor keeps tabs on those kinds of things to make sure it's consistent throughout the book and/or is escalating properly.

I'll be taking a break from my blog for a couple of days, picking back up with love scenes when I return.  Have a great Mother's Day weekend, everyone!  ~ 

Wednesday, May 7, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Continuing with comments and questions that you've sent regarding love scenes:

Consie asks:  "Do you have certain books and/or websites that you use for ideas for love scenes?"

Another great question!  I do have lots of sources for writing love scenes.  I subscribe to Cosmo simply for the articles about sex.  And you'd be surprised how many great articles about sex you'll find in Prevention magazine!  (Typically those are about emotional responses.)  As far as websites, there is one website I really like that is maintained by a writer of erotica, Joan E. Lloyd.  There are no images except for her book covers--the site revolves around discussions of sexual topics.  Don't get me wrong--it's absolutely an adult-content site with explicit first-person "testimonials," and some of the subjects are not for the faint of heart, but Joan's site has a feeling of honesty and curiosity versus gratuitous confessionals.  It's very informative, but not in a clinical way.

And generally, I keep an eye out for articles about sensory detail--what aromas turn men on, for example, and the affect pheromones have on romance.  Or "sexy" foods, or examples of sexy lingerie.  In my file cabinet you'll find a folder marked "Sex Research" that's full of articles I've printed from the Internet or torn out of magazines.  I believe that if you write sensual romance novels, you owe it to your readers to deliver something new and surprising, and that means researching love scenes just as you would a setting or a situation. 

Tomorrow:  Does my editor ever change my love scenes?  ~ 

Tuesday, May 6, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Continuing with comments and questions that you've sent regarding love scenes:

Robin asks, "Should I include dialogue in love scenes?"

Another good question!  The answer is yes--if it feels organic to the scene.  We're not talking running dialogue here or entire paragraphs of exchange--just a word here and there and maybe a short sentence or a fragment sentence.  In more sensual scenes, dialogue between partners will ratchet up the excitement if they tell each other what they like and how things feel.

But dialogue during sex can also be handy for furthering the plot of your story in terms of things being revealed.  People have their guard down when they're in bed--they say things they'd never say under normal circumstances (good and bad!), things they might later regret, things that can increase conflict and tension.  And don't forget the "afterglow" scene--another good place for telltale dialogue.

Tomorrow:  What books and other sources I use for writing love scenes.  ~

Monday, May 5, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Today I wanted to include a few comments and questions that you've sent regarding love scenes.

Leann asks, "In whose point of view should the love scene be told?"

Good question!  As with any scene, a love scene should be told in the point of view of the character who has the most at stake.  If one of them is a virgin, for example, that person probably has the most at stake.  Or if this is the first time one of them has made love since their breakup/divorce/death of a spouse, then that person probably has the most at stake.  If one person is wondering whether they can trust the other person, the first person probably has the most at stake.  If one person is wondering if they're falling in love with the other person, that person has the most at stake.  And so on. 

On the other hand, if both characters have nothing (or a lot) at stake, in a love scene is the one place where I break my rule of maintaining POV during a scene.  I actually like to switch POV during a love scene so that we know what both people are thinking (and feeling).

Tomorrow:  Should you include dialogue in a love scene?  ~

Thursday, May 1, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
There is a difference between writing a sex scene and a love scene.  Even if in the beginning your characters are having sex, by the end of your romance novel, they should be making love.  What's the difference?  Writer Nicole Jordan says it well:

"You can write love scenes that both titillate and touch readers' emotions if instead of focusing on the mechanical act of sex, you focus on the essence of romance:  emotion, sensuality, sexual tension."  (Seduce a Bride, available now)

When it comes to putting romance into your love scenes, think sensory detail:  taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight.

I'll be away from my blog for a few days, but when I return Monday, I'll be answering your questions about writing love scenes.  Keep those emails coming!  ~

Wednesday, April 30, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Writing love scenes is a bit like having sex--the first few times are new, wondrous, exhilarating.  But after a while, you have to put some effort into it to keep it new!

So, after having written over a hundred love scenes in the 40+ novels I've published, how do I keep it fresh?  A few weeks ago I posted an entry called What can I do different in THIS book?  Some of the same principles apply to love scenes--to make them different, look to your characters and to the book's setting.  In my book Just Dare Me, the couple are competing in a survival weekend for a coveted account so all the love scenes take place outdoors (and in tents).  I've been told that because all my love scenes took place in an unorthodox setting is why the book was chosen to be excerpted in Cosmo.

As an example of using character to develop love scenes, in my first book Irresistible?, my heroine Ellie is an artistic wild child compared to the hero, an uptight attorney.  (Kind of like Dharma and Greg before Dharma and Greg.)  In one scene in the book, the couple have toe sex under the table at the hero's stuffy business dinner.  A scene like that highlights the differences between the characters, and is unexpected.

So if the thrill of writing love scenes is gone, lean on the distinguishing elements in your story to distinguish the love scenes. 

Tomorrow:  Making love scenes sigh...with romance.  ~

Tuesday, April 29, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Many writers are intimidated by the sheer logistics of writing a love scene.  Let's face it--sex can be awkward.  Who initiates it and how?  And where?  How do the clothes come off?  And without pockets, where does everyone put their hands? 

An explicit love scene has to demonstrate believable body movement--there's nothing worse than being in the middle of a love scene and being jarred out of it because suddenly the hero has sprouted an extra arm, so EDIT carefully!

And then there's the question of whether you should mention birth control--more specifically, a condom, which will also offer protection from STDs.  I do, and I know my editor encourages other Harlequin Blaze writers to incorporate condoms in their love scenes.  In general, the more risky the behavior (going home from a bar with a stranger, for example), the more important it is to stress that a condom is being used.

As far as mentioning private parts, you can either use the correct anatomical term, or a euphemism.  Euphemisms are generally more well-received by readers because they seem more natural and more casual.  In my first book, Irresistible?, a Harlequin Love & Laughter novel released in 1997, I remember getting a lot of questions from other writers asking how I "got away with" mentioning the word "penis" in the book.  (It was in the context of a joke being told.)

That was then...this is now.  As society begins to accept the common use of slang words to describe body parts (cable TV has been and continues to be a big part of pushing the language envelope), you will begin to see those words more accepted by romance readers.  When I was growing up, the use of the the term "T&A" was scandalous.  Now I hear the actual words on regular cable TV (TNT, A&E) all the time.

If you're looking for euphemisms for private parts, try the Internet ("list of euphemisms for penis").  You won't like and/or be able to use all that you find (some will make you wince), but you'll probably learn something new!

Tomorrow:  I've written over 100 love scenes throughout my career--how I try to keep them fresh.  ~

Monday, April 28, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Just as every scene in your story should progress the plot and/or characterization of your story, so should your love scenes.  Love scenes are great tools for reflecting character change.  For example, if a character has a one-night stand in the beginning of the story with very little emotional involvement, by the end of the book, you can show how their feelings toward the other person have grown with a different type of love scene.

A love scene can also reflect a plot change.  In a romantic suspense novel, a love scene might occur when emotions are running high, either just before or just after a resolution of a suspense element.

This brings up the point that every love scene in your book should accomplish something different, meaning each love scene should be ratcheted up in terms of what's at stake--usually emotionally.  So as the emotions between the character grows, the love scenes should become more intense.

And paranormal author Raven Hart explains how a love scene can further external plot points in the story:

"Sex can represent all kinds of political alliances and official bonding among different species of fantasy characters."  (The Vampire's Betrayal, May 2008)

And an example of where the love scene becomes a story plot point?  How about a pregnancy or a pregnancy scare?  Yikes, that changes everything!

Tomorrow:  The logistics of a love scene--should you incorporate birth control, for example?  And how explicit can you/should you get in terms of word choice?  ~

Sunday, April 27, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Where you put your love scenes and how many you write depends on the story and if you're targeting a particular "line" with your romance novel.  Some romance lines dictate the level of sensuality.  For example, in "sweet" or inspirational romances, there is no premarital sex, and post-marital sex takes place off-page.  In the Harlequin Blaze line, the story is usually based on a sexual premise, so sensual love scenes are expected.  (If the line has expectations regarding the level of sensuality, it will be mentioned in the writing guidelines.) 

Note:  If you're writing a sweet or inspirational romance, that doesn't mean that sex isn't a factor; you still have to keep the sexual tension sizzling, which can be hard to do when your characters aren't acting on it!

Okay, let's say that you've determined your novel will have love scenes--but how many should you include?  That depends entirely on your story.

In my October Blaze novel WATCH AND LEARN, there is an exhibitionist factor--the heroine "performs" better at a distance than face to face, so while  there is nudity and sexual tension early, the actual love scenes don't take place until later in the story.  Ditto for a book I wrote earlier in my career called TOO HOT TO SLEEP which features phone sex with a (gulp!) wrong number!

But in my November Blaze novel IN A BIND, two strangers have an encounter on an airplane early in the story which they both assume will be a one-time thing--and it isn't.  So the love scenes start soon and continue throughout.

Generally, unless your story premise is a one-night stand, readers prefer that characters get to know each other before sleeping together--it tends to make the sex more intimate and more powerful because there's more at stake. 

You can use your love scenes to progress the plot and character growth of your story--more on that topic tomorrow.  ~

Saturday, April 26, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
I'm not a  big believer in muse.  If you wait for your muse to strike, you're probably not going to to be able to finish a manuscript.  In short--a working writer writes when they're not in the mood to write.

That said, it does help to set the mood for certain scenes, especially love scenes.  To get in the right frame of mind, it helps to put yourself in your character's shoes (or bed).  So, if the love scene is a quickie in a hallway, you might not need so much foreplay.  But if the love scene is a long, romantic exploration, you might need to work up to it.  Music and lighting can help to set the mood to create a great love scene, as well as images of "props" such as nice lingerie.  Aromatherapy or just a spritz of perfume in the air might also help you to better write all those great sensory details you need in a love scene.

And, just as there are optimum times for your character to be in the mood to make love, there are optimum times for you to be in the mood to write a love scene.  Good advice from Jennifer LaBrecque, fellow Harlequin Blaze author:

Friday, April 25, 2008  Writing love scenes, cont'd
Keep those emails coming!

The one big mistake that most new writers (and some veteran writers!) make when writing love scenes:  not maintaining story tone and characterization.  What do I mean? 

I mean if you're writing a romantic comedy, the tone of the love scenes should be light and/or humorous.  In different love scenes in my romantic comedies, I've had the bed fall, the phone ring, the fire alarm go off, and other funny things happen that maintain the tone of the general story.

If you're writing a dark, gritty suspense novel, that tone/mood should be present somehow in the love scenes, perhaps in the intensity.  If a woman is scared/running for her life, having sex with the hero might seem gratuitous.  But it'll work if you use the desperation and high adrenaline (and short window of opportunity) to your favor. 

And if you're writing a paranormal romance novel, the love scenes would be a perfect place to exhibit a little magic!

Ditto for maintaining characterization throughout a love scene.  If your character is klutzy in every other aspect of his/her life, chances are he/she is klutzy in bed.  Or absent-minded.  Or uptight.  Or overly talkative.  Or distracted. Or nervous.  Or an over-achiever.  Don't forget that just because people take their clothes off, they don't turn into a completely different person.  (Barring the occasional role-playing or fantasy sex scene, but that's another post.)

Tomorrow:  How to get in the mood to write a love scene! ~  

Thursday, April 24, 2008  Writing love scenes
I'm finishing a manuscript which has called for some pretty risque love scenes...lots of them.  If dialogue is the easiest thing to write, then surely love scenes are the most difficult.  Over the next few days I'll be talking about love scenes--the logistics, how and when to use euphemisms, keeping scenes fresh, etc.  If you have a question or a comment about writing love scenes that you wouldn't mind having mentioned here (no names will be used), email me. 

Tomorrow:  the one big mistake that most new writers make when writing love scenes.  ~

Wednesday, April 23, 2008  Combat the spread
According to Prevention magazine (May 2008 issue), the average American spends 7.7 hours a day seated!  And it's logical to assume that writers are above that average because our jobs are so sedentary--how scary is that?  The magazine article goes on to say that  "Missouri University researchers discovered that inactivity (4 hours or more) causes a near shutdown of an enzyme that controls fat and cholesterol metabolism, so you store more fat."  How to combat this metabolism shutdown and still meet your page production?  Stand up!  Frequent breaks to walk around will help, but you might also consider getting a chair that will allow you to sit OR stand while you work.  (Click here for more information about the Safco "stand alone stool" pictured to the le