Changes

As we near the end of this president's term, many changes have been suggested. Case in point critiquing, there is talk of having a early critique session prior to the meeting. This may work well for some, but I believe it should be put to the membership for a vote. To make sweeping changes without input of the membership is a great way to alienate people. Apparently this change will be tested this next meeting. Someone implied it would be easier to do some of the preliminary critiquing online. This may be so, but to create so much structure and rules in my opinion defeats the openness of the process. I scramble to write each day and to blog every Tuesday. I do not have time to look over a body of work of another writer as part of my work day. I hold a critique session every Wednesday and anyone is welcome. Just e-mail me you are interested.
But I digress. In view of the success of our conference, with so many stepping up to the plate I believe we need fewer rules and regs. We are here to help one another not to throw obstacles on the path of the writer's journey. This is of course just my opinion and as such should be taken only as a single view. I, for one, welcome more discussion on the subject before it is cast in stone.

Scenes that inspire you.

How many everyday scenes, or situations, have inspired your writing?

I can think of a few.

Once at work I saw a couple in the parking lot. Young, probably high school.
The boy had his hands on her waist, facing her, and she was talking. And it didn't look like a boy trying to touch a girl in whatever way he could. It looked like he cared about her. Was completely absorbed by her and what she had to say.

And it struck me. I wanted to write a book that starts with hero and heroine as young kids but with the instant 'attraction' or completeness. That was my inspiration for a book called 'Soulmates'.

I read an article about a cellphone bomb that didn't go off as it was supposed to and a soldier held it up to be photographed and on it - it said, One Missed Call.
That led me to a story called 'Forever Love'.

I heard a song on the radio (country music always inspires me). The song is called in Telluride (I think) but before I knew that, I thought the guys was singing, Until your eyes. Wow, I was so inspired to write about a guy who was haunted about something in his past, barely living until he meets the woman, and in her eyes, he sees his salvation. (Very vague at this point) I did write the beginning of a book about a troubled bartender but I don't know if it's the one.

In my past I've had experiences with overly religious almost cult-like people which have inspired a lot of writing, some of it not fit for anyone else's eyes, but I've used some of it in Soulmates.
My experiences have made me extremely sensitive about extremists, especially when it comes to religion (doesn't it always?) and women being treated poorly, whether in relationships or religion.
That inspired me to write a novel called Worlds Apart. I wrote that one for the Write a Novel in a weekend contest. It's a parallel story about a girl here in America who finds out she's pregnant (at 16) and a woman in Afghanistan same age, but married and just had her third child.

So, everyday life can inspire you. Just keep watching. :)

Promotion

On varies Loops I have been on, I have noticed a reoccurring thread about what writer's do in promoting. Everything from Blog tours, Twittering, Myspace, and Facebook pages. One lady talked about winning a contract by promoting. She said for months she was everywhere, on all social internet avenues to the point she wasn't sleeping. But she won the contest and the contract however, she didn't have any creativity to write or to promote her own work once it was ready.


My question is how do you as writer's promote your work? It's something in the back of my mind as I am writing my current piece. As an Examiner, my articles get the most views with word of mouth, via email, Twitter, and Facebook. Should we get onto fan sites in our specific sub-genres and comment on things we research... How far should we go? What is good promotion, needed promotion to sell fiction?

Improving the LCRW experience

At this time of year most folks take stock and see what areas in their life they can improve and make resolutions to do just that. I think LCRW has come a long way from where it was when I left. It is now a vital organization, but I think it could be even better. Scuttlebutt has it some folks, me included, wishing the critique portion of meetings could be reinstated. Some years ago (I don't remember exactly when) folks who arrived early could read a few pages and the group would offer helpful suggestions. At the last meeting one member was having a down experience with one of her manuscripts. The group was able to offer her some insight and it is my belief that the main reason for the group is for members to aid one another with writing issues.
Critiques are the most concrete method of improving ones work. I have a critique partner who is very good , but I think she humors me because I am published. Being published does not mean you can be a island that is always right. You need contact with other writers.
I have tried to hold monthly meetings at my house for critique but, find they are under attended. This time of year the weather is not always nice and my driveway is a very steep hill. So since most of us come to the meetings why not set aside a portion of the meeting for critiques?
Looking forward to seeing all of you at the next meeting and I hope you all had wonderful holidays and have the finest New Year. It doesn't seem possible it is 2010 already. Yesterday was the first day of spring wasn't it?