On July 25-28 Romance writers, agents and publishers will be gathering together in Southern California for the annual Romance Writers of America conference, and for the first time ever I will will be joining in the fun. Yup that is right people I'm calling it fun. For the first time I will be surrounded by like minded people who I don't have to explain why I write or why I like writing romance or even reading it. I do so because I love it and there is so many things that can be done within the genre, not to mention that it is the highest grossing genre that is out there. Don't mock the romance. It's the most popular genre out there and you can't argue with numbers.
Any ways RWA12 is now about 16 days away and I'm buzzing with nervous excitement. As of last Friday I've made two agent appointments to pitch my novel Mackenzie Falls to, and now the real work has to happen. I've got ten minutes with each agent and in that time have to be able to summarize my book in a way that describes the characters and the basics of the story that leave the agent wanting to read some pages. Easy right? Not to me. I've spent over a year with these characters and I tend to want to go on and on and on about them. So, trying to get it into several sentences is a challenge. A challenge I'm more than willing to take on.
For this conference I'm not going in expecting to come out with an agent. While that would be amazing, things just don't happen that fast. I'm going into this conference as a learning experience and to meet people who are already established or pursuing writing in the publishing world. For the last year or so I've been doing my research and been sending out resumes as to find my niche in this industry. The more I learn the more I want to be involved in the agenting process; as well as continuing my own writing. With all the wonderful workshops that RWA is providing, I have so many wonderful choices of what to attend and learn for those who are actively doing what they are teaching. I'm not sure about you guys, but I'm more than excited to learn about this industry that has peaked my interest for the last several years.
Why has it taken me so long to realize that I want to be involved in publishing? No clue. I've always wanted to be apart of the entertainment industry, and it wasn't until my producing class that we dove in to literary rights that I really started to be come interested in how the two industries overlap. In the end wanting to help authors get their books made in to movies while not losing all their rights is what really got me into looking into agenting. Not to mention I love books!
Anyways, now that my little rant is over, I've got my work cut out for me before the conference starts. But in the end all things that are worth it in the end, is worth all the hard work and time that goes into it. I'll make sure to keep everyone posted on my adventures of RWA this month and in my search for the right agent, not just for me but for my work. AND that is worth taking the time for.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Distraction in Research
For the past few weeks have been a bit crazy, as well as my focus has been off kilter, making it difficult to write. But with the lack of focus and time on writing I have used some distractions in time to do research on some other books ideas I've been mulling around with.
Pray-tell what am I researching you ask?
Well, I've now a ton of new pages to read on werewolf lore, lyconthropy, other kin, and a lot of information on different government agencies (what can I say I can't remember all things I leaned when in polisci classes in school).
The government research is for an idea about s girl who has known nothing but being a spy. Not being one to follow politics, it's key to make sure that I know which agency does what and who's involved. Just maybe I should have kept my Politic Science text books from college. Opps. I'll survive and still be able to write this book. That is with the help of some research.
As for the werewolf lore and lyconthropy? Well I have a two different works that have weres in them. One that is the center of the story, the other one minor character is a wereleporad. The more I look up on lore I'm finding it more and more interesting. For example did you know that it wasn't until the 19th century that werewolves lore began to change so that it was spread by bite/scratch, can be hurt by silver and have a human/wolf form. In the weres were curses for 7 years and can be associated to witchcraft, etc. It's all rather interesting if you ask me.
Anyways it's getting late, and I've been really enjoying reading up on all the different stuff I want to use as reference in future books. Some times I forget that I can count research as working for writing. It's just one of the first steps to getting to the finished project. And reading them is almost as fun as writing if you ask me. Though I have to admit it would be nice to be able to already know things before I go into writing mode. Unfortunately I'll stick to doing research the old fashion way...with books and the internet.
Have fun with your writing and research! I know I am!
Pray-tell what am I researching you ask?
Well, I've now a ton of new pages to read on werewolf lore, lyconthropy, other kin, and a lot of information on different government agencies (what can I say I can't remember all things I leaned when in polisci classes in school).
The government research is for an idea about s girl who has known nothing but being a spy. Not being one to follow politics, it's key to make sure that I know which agency does what and who's involved. Just maybe I should have kept my Politic Science text books from college. Opps. I'll survive and still be able to write this book. That is with the help of some research.
As for the werewolf lore and lyconthropy? Well I have a two different works that have weres in them. One that is the center of the story, the other one minor character is a wereleporad. The more I look up on lore I'm finding it more and more interesting. For example did you know that it wasn't until the 19th century that werewolves lore began to change so that it was spread by bite/scratch, can be hurt by silver and have a human/wolf form. In the weres were curses for 7 years and can be associated to witchcraft, etc. It's all rather interesting if you ask me.
Anyways it's getting late, and I've been really enjoying reading up on all the different stuff I want to use as reference in future books. Some times I forget that I can count research as working for writing. It's just one of the first steps to getting to the finished project. And reading them is almost as fun as writing if you ask me. Though I have to admit it would be nice to be able to already know things before I go into writing mode. Unfortunately I'll stick to doing research the old fashion way...with books and the internet.
Have fun with your writing and research! I know I am!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Romance, Erotica & Women
Ever since 50 Shades of Gray going around my day job I've made a few observations that I find rather amusing that some people haven't come to the same conclusion. For one of them Women are sexual creatures. This should not be a shocking thing but it is.
One of the man reasons women read romance novels or watch romantic comedies, or at least from my observations, is not in hopes that their significant other or lack of would be like the men in the books. But the fact is that romance books have other elements to it that make it exciting. For the case in this matter sex. Sex isn't the horrible taboo thing that society has made people to believe. Novels let you experience things that you might personally be able to experience. Let it be a fantasy, suspense, mystery, romance, or erotica. It's a way that you can do something without doing something and be judged for it. If you know what I mean.
Not to mention that men, if you don't mind my bluntness, should be happy that women read erotic, cause well for the many who don't get it very often will get some after their ladies read a good book with some steamy scenes. Not one of the women I work with, and friends, didn't admit that their significant others were very happy with the after effects of them reading 50 Shades of Gray or watching Magic Mike, that just came out into theaters.
So my question is why do people mock those of us who embrace the taboo side of culture. Sex, romance and erotic aren't things that should be feared in my opinion. They are apart of you and how you choose to have them apart of your life should be up to the individual. If you love reading or writing 'dirty' stories, then do it. If you want something more tame then go for the more subtle romance that's out there. Want something more extreme then there is all types of well written erotica in all shapes and sizes.
Why people are amazed that people are shocked that women are going crazy over the movie Magic Mike or the book 50 Shades of Gray is beyond me. It's just showing that women aren't always the innocent little things that society thinks we should be.
That's my little rant about my amazement that people find it so weird that women are going all crazy for 50 Shades and Magic Mike. Believe it or not people, this is nothing new. Go explore all that the literary world has to offer and don't let anyone make you feel bad about what you enjoy.
One of the man reasons women read romance novels or watch romantic comedies, or at least from my observations, is not in hopes that their significant other or lack of would be like the men in the books. But the fact is that romance books have other elements to it that make it exciting. For the case in this matter sex. Sex isn't the horrible taboo thing that society has made people to believe. Novels let you experience things that you might personally be able to experience. Let it be a fantasy, suspense, mystery, romance, or erotica. It's a way that you can do something without doing something and be judged for it. If you know what I mean.
Not to mention that men, if you don't mind my bluntness, should be happy that women read erotic, cause well for the many who don't get it very often will get some after their ladies read a good book with some steamy scenes. Not one of the women I work with, and friends, didn't admit that their significant others were very happy with the after effects of them reading 50 Shades of Gray or watching Magic Mike, that just came out into theaters.
So my question is why do people mock those of us who embrace the taboo side of culture. Sex, romance and erotic aren't things that should be feared in my opinion. They are apart of you and how you choose to have them apart of your life should be up to the individual. If you love reading or writing 'dirty' stories, then do it. If you want something more tame then go for the more subtle romance that's out there. Want something more extreme then there is all types of well written erotica in all shapes and sizes.
Why people are amazed that people are shocked that women are going crazy over the movie Magic Mike or the book 50 Shades of Gray is beyond me. It's just showing that women aren't always the innocent little things that society thinks we should be.
That's my little rant about my amazement that people find it so weird that women are going all crazy for 50 Shades and Magic Mike. Believe it or not people, this is nothing new. Go explore all that the literary world has to offer and don't let anyone make you feel bad about what you enjoy.
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