Wednesday, September 29, 2010

I Can’t Win For Winning, or, Too Much Of A Good Thing.



Everyone who knows me knows that my fantasy “novel” is a work in progress – at best. While I have six or seven phenomenal scenes that will help make it a Nebula Award winner, I don’t have a tale epic enough for a novel.


Last week I thought of an additional, semi-major, character that excited me. I “outlined” the rules of his magic in my story. Wrote out his plot line, knew when he would enter the story, how to place him on hold until the epic battle (or whatever) and what his involvement would be.


I determined that his part would be 7,000 to 12,000, then transcribed my notes from paper to Word and brought it to a writer’s group yesterday.


With the exception of one person who didn’t understand it (but was okay that I could) everyone loved it. Loved the character. Loved the rules of his magic. Loved him as much as I did.


So, what’s the problem? Everyone loved him too much. “The rules I set for his magic are such a ‘game changer’ he can support his own novel.” “You have to be careful to limit his involvement. He has the potential to take over your story.” “He needs his own story.”


Just fantastic. I either have to severely limit a character who could add over 10% to my novel OR I have two unfinished novels without enough material for either.


Back to the storyboard. (I don’t draw.)


It is truly possible to have too much of a good thing.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

finding your niche

Many believe each of us has a purpose, and the tough part is finding what that purpose is. I've known since I was a small child (looooong time agooo) that what I wanted out of life is simply to make folks smile. If I were silly or serious did not matter, as long as someone smiled. To that end I've always tried to help folks and to make them think about some of the silly things I say. Such as (this one drives my grandsons nutz) sky blue pink. Okay you say, what's so wonderful about that? Well if you look at an evening sky and try to figure what I am talking about you will note even if you cannot find the sky blue pink you will see something beautiful. My books are an extension of this. I write fantasy and easily accept, that creatures can talk, fly or even disappear.
I'm not senile or demented I just think there is more than one way to achieve a goal. Yes, I believe in magic, the kind that makes us wonder at the wide eyed look of a child's first Christmas. The kind that makes us see the simplicity in life is really the true beauty.
My fox books are a kind of magic for me, a personal magic. I can sit in my office and go to Ireland, or Avalon or even Atlantis. Each of us has a personal magic and when you find it never let it go. Have faith in your personal magic. It will sustain you through the dark moments of life and if you cling tightly enough the dark will be only moments long.
I write what I want to read. Write what takes you away on angel wings, what makes your soul soar. If it isn't fun don't do it. We were put here to enjoy the bounties of life and to aid one another.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Panic Is Setting In

I've heard from three persons at the publishers. The publisher stated I would hear back no later than 45 days. My editor just wrote I'll hear something by next Tuesday.

Right now I'm freaking out. I sit down to write and my mind goes off on tangents and I can't concentrate.

My question to my published friends is this - How do you structure your time to get your manuscript done? Is there any tried-and-true method or do I need to feel my way through this?

There's been a shift in the story line, and I've been working to make it seamless. However, I'm beginning to question it even if it's the right direction to move in. I guess I just have to have the faith in myself that my friends have in me. This is, after all, my dream.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Conference, the conference

Well, Sorry I forgot I was to blog on Tuesday, but I had a medium do a reading for me and the entire thing blew me away. Some very revealing stuff, anyhow that's my mea culpa.
So lets talk about the conference. I don't know what the monetary return was, but am quite sure I am aware of the learning experience. Our speaker was both highly entertaining and informative. The service at the hotel was very good. Jessica was a hoot from the get go to gone. I hope we invite her back.
If anyone did not have a good time it was their own fault, with the exception of Kat who unfortunately was ill and missed some of the festivities.
My final assessment of the conference? Let's do it again!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Post Conference Euphoria

Kudos to the LC_RW Conference Committee. I have to admit I had some concerns as to the feasibility of holding a conference at the time. Much to my delighted surprise, the whole event went smoothly and in my opinion, was a success.

The intimacy of the setting with under 25 people made the workshops very enjoyable. With pitches to a local publisher as an added draw, my time at the conference was worth every penny.

Now the conference is over. What to do? My pitch garnered me a request to submit the first three chapters of my book. Not a problem, they're polished and ready. The rest is not so ready, so I've got to plan my days with plenty of time to work on my book. I don't anticipate it to take long because the creative juices are bubbling over.

Thankfully (sorry dear) my husband just left this morning for a business trip. What does that mean? Uninterrupted time to work at my computer. The kids (23 and 18) have been told they'll need to help more as I get things moving. My goal? To be finished with latest draft by next week.

Who else has the new impetus to create as a result of the conference?

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Write On Rochester Kicks off!

Last night was So you wanna meet an Author... The room was full, the people were engaged and the speaker...charismatic. Jessica Andersen brought the attendees into a world of publishing and craft. Exploring the possibilities and rationalities of why author's write. Seeing old friends, making new and networking, networking, networking. The pitch sessions went off well, Rhonda Penders from the Wild Rose Press made the experience simply and enriching.  If you are still on the fence about what this conference can offer you think again, come down before 9 am Radisson RIT, Rochester, NY for the all day workshop today. www.lcrw.org.  I can't wait to get into the workshops. If they are half of as interesting as last nights getting to know you, then today with be mind blowing.
Write On Rochester!

Friday, September 17, 2010

A writing contest

A friend of mine found this writing contest. I think it would be a lot of fun if a bunch of us entered. An opportunity to put into use all the knowledge we acquire this weekend. (At a 600 word max we might even take the time at a meeting to read them.)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105660765

Your story must begin with the following line:
"Some people swore that the house was haunted."

Plus, your story must end with this line:
"Nothing was ever the same again after that."

The MAXIMUM length is 600 words.

Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 26, 2010.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Conference

Well, we are down to the wire now. Only a few more days. If we all remember this is a learning experience, we will get more out of the conference than we expect. I am really looking forward to the experience. I'm not the shy type (surprise!) but when it comes to pitching I am a basket case. I've done it countless times, yet always get my foot in my mouth. And the worst thing is the story I was hoping to pitch, is lost. I cannot find it anywhere. Wrote it several years ago and put it on a floppy disk. Do I know where I put it? Noooo. So instead I will pitch a contemporary I have partially written. More than half, so not to worry.
Ya know what gets me about pitches? I don't know about other folks, but I just want to get through it. I rush and I know I shouldn't, but I do anyway. And it doesn't seem to matter how well I know the person I am pitching to. I've pitched to Wild Rose press on several occassions and have always been asked to submit, but as every story I've written is in the same vein, I have to submit to WingsPress first. This tale is different from any other I've written as it takes place in LasVegas in the present time. While it does feature a fox and a dragon it is vastly different as I introduce goddesses, flying dragons and a town planning board. Think that might be considered a departure.
In a different mode of thought, let's set ourselves to expect the best and we'll get it. If you are down, thinking down will bring you down further, but if you think up, the higher you will soar. Hope to have the best weekend ever, join me!

Monday, September 13, 2010

The Perfect Family

Thanks to my sister and fellow LCRW members for the opportunity to tell you about my new work, coming up in September.

To blog readers who don’t know me, first, let me introduce myself. I’m Kathryn Shay and I’ve been published by Harlequin and The Berkley Publishing Group for the last fifteen years. THE PERFECT FAMILY, released from Bold Strokes Books, is my thirty-seventh book. My work has been characterized by reviewers and readers as highly emotional, poignant and heart wrenching.

Those adjectives certainly apply to THE PERFECT FAMILY. The story follows the Davidsons: they’re an average American family with a good life and they consider themselves lucky to have each other. Then their seventeen year old son tells them he’s gay and their world shifts. They have no idea what they will go through after Jamie’s disclosure: Jamie's father Mike can't reconcile his religious beliefs with his son's sexuality. His brother Brian is harassed by his jock buddies and angry at Jamie for complicating all their lives. Maggie, his mother, fears being able to protect her son while struggling to save her crumbling marriage. And Jamie feels guilty for the unhappiness his disclosure has caused. The book is full of both conflict and love, ending on a redeeming note.

I’m frequently asked why I wrote this book. When my own son came out gay, I decided I wanted to tell a story around that issue. THE PERFECT FAMILY is fiction, but touches on some of the things my own family went through. I wished then I’d had a book like this to help me understand that a family’s struggle when a teen comes out is okay, but he deserves love and support from them, too. I was also a high school teacher for many years and I know teenagers. I know how they react to people who are different from them, how sexual orientation can freak them out and how they can be cruel. But they can also be unbelievably loyal and supportive. I tried to show all this in the book.

Having raised kids of my own, I’m also aware of how a child’s problems can affect the whole family. I originally wrote the book in first person narrative from the mother’s point of view (it was called A MOTHER’S STORY) because I knew what Maggie, the mom, was going through. I’ve also experienced the pain when spouses disagree on what’s best for their children. However, it wasn’t long before I realized this book was more than Maggie’s story; it was each family member’s journey. On the first of many revisions, I put in the viewpoints of Mike, Brian and Jamie. I think this expansion enriched the book and made it more relevant. After several revisions, I also added a secondary storyline to mirror the first which gives the book an added dimension.

The character of Jamie is based on my own son, Ben. He read the manuscript twice, the beginning draft and the last one. I was amazed at the insights he had into the characters. His comments led me to make some further revisions. And we have a gift for my readers. Ben is a singer/songwriter and made a CD in high school about “loving a boy” and other adolescent issues. We’re offering it free at the publisher’s website when you order a book from them http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/products.php?product=Perfect-Family%252C-The-%25252d-by-Kathryn-Shay and it will be also be offered on my website, www.kathrnyshay.com while copies last.

I’m sure you can tell from my comments that this is the book of my heart and a labor of love. I hope readers enjoy it.

Kathryn Shay

PS—If you’re interested in reading my other books, I’m working on new projects now so check my website for that. I’m also making plans to put nine single title novels up on Kindle and Smashwords by the time THE PERFECT FAMILY is released.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Crisp Breezes, Blue Skys and a Sprinkle of Puffy Clouds

It's in the air, all around us. Fall is approaching fast on the horizon and it feels decadent.  For me, this is the season for writing. Probably a throwback to school days and such. But this week, creativity was like a tidal wave which gobbled me up and plopped me on a surf board to ride the wave. Seven thousand words I wrote and I have the itch to glue my butt to the seat and get lost in the story today, at this moment.
So thank you Crisp Breezes, blue sky and puffy clouds for heralding in the wave of creativity because I'm loving it. Hope each of you get swept away in your stories as well.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Counting Down

Tick, tick, tick . . .
Time is running out . . .
September 17 & 18 . . .
Jessica Andersen . . .
Mayan prophecy . .
2012 . . .


So many questions
Will the world come to an end?
Can Jessica's Mayan warriors defeat the demons?
Get the the scoop from Jessica herself.
See you at Write On Rochester!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Conference, the conference

I never imagined our group would have a conference. Yet, we are and I am the first to support it. The work the committee has done is nothing short of amazing. I would never have known what had to be done, let alone do it. These people have worked tirelessly for the success of "Write On Rochester", so let's make this the very stellar event it can be. I know many have time constraints and I understand in some cases money can be an issue, but if you truly want to be an author, novelist, or even a essayist, you must support this event. This is part of the package, to be part of a support group that buoys you up when you think you are stuck, also requires you support the group as well as the other writers.
The location is convenient in a very good neighborhood, the time of the event does not interfere with any holidays and by now all the crumb crushers are back in school, so dad can watch them for a couple of days. Do this for yourself and you will marvel at what you will learn. I expect a full turnout, please don't disappoint me. Come on "Write on Rochester!"

Monday, September 6, 2010

To Dream Or Not? Is It Worth It?

As you can tell by the title of this post, I'm enduring some frustration. My pride and joy is writing, whether it be blogging, creating business documents or working on my manuscript.

But what do you do when someone close to you believes what you do is trash? Not 'trashy' but absolute garbage. In their eyes, the only publications of worth are NON-fiction. How do you get past the resentment, the pain and discouragement?

I've talked with a few friends today about this matter. In answer to their advice, one thing I'm going to do is commit to journaling every night. Once I make a commitment, I'm bound and determined to keep it, so this is a good task.

Second, now that school is starting and my days start just as early as everyone else in the house, I will devote my mornings to writing my manuscript. This way, it won't take time away from the family.

Of course, I could take advantage of the fact the someone close to me is going away on a business trip tomorrow until late Friday. However, to be fair, I'm going to try and plan my writing for the long term - which means the mornings after the others go off to school and work will be best for my creativity.

Then during the lunch hours I'll be back at my paid job of hostessing. Once I arrive home, I can devote my time to doing the household chores and family time.

I have to admit, I never learned to manage three kids at once, plus my husband. I do best when it's one-on-one. One is off at college (my most time-consuming child because he was so active in school), the other is still away with his girl-friend's family in Colorado. He is coming home at the end of the month. I have missed him every day, as he is my best friend. My third child is entering eleventh grade, yet is not so active in school. When she comes home at the end of the day, she likes to relax and unwind. This year, however, I'm going to enlist her in the planning and executing dinners in preparation for some day living on her own. (Should have done this with the oldest too, LOL)

Enough of my ranting. The moral to this blog? If you have a dream, you'll find a way to make it come true. Is it worth it? Without a doubt. What's life without dreams to propel us forward?

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Another Reason

Yet another reason I can’t wait for Write On Rochester! The Wild Rose Press will be taking pitches. My novella is finished. Granted, it’s far from polished, but I’m going to be pitching.
This will be my first time sitting across from an editor and trying to sell my writing. Though I’m on pins and needles, this is a huge opportunity. Imagine instant feedback instead of waiting and waiting.
Maybe, just maybe, the editor will give me a genuine smile and say, “Send me the first three chapters.”

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

I missed it again!!

I am so sorry to have missed my date with the blog. Again.
I have to stop signing up for the last and first days of the month because I tend to switch to the new page of the following month too soon, without copying over all pertinent assignments.
Drats.
I have no excuse.
Except for having to spend large parts of my assigned day to blog getting poked, prodded and scanned. I wouldn't put my worse enemy through an MRI, though it would be a great plot point for a mystery or thriller. "Gee, Doctor Feelgood, could you ask me that again? My hearing is permanently damaged from all the noise in that tube I was shoved into the other day."
Plus I started back providing child care yesterday, fighting a war of wills with a 4 year-old who claims I am not her boss and if she chooses to run around in only SpongeBob Squarepants panties it's her business.
I don't like 4 years old.
Like Kathryn Shay, I'm blogging my butt off to introduce Those Who Wait, my new story with Decadent Publishing which was released over the weekend. This is the publisher I found through Romantic Times Book Club. The story went from submission to release inside 30 days.
And my next book with Wild Rose Press comes out in three weeks so I'm promoting that also.
Maybe I need a larger calendar?
Kat