 The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!
August 3 question - When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want? Both, I imagine. Romance readers search for books with their favorite tropes (eg. enemies to lovers, who did this to you, fake dating). However, these get stale with repetition. With that in mind, here are two methods to help strike a balance between originality and giving the people what they crave: Method 1 To keep things fresh, I use tropes I enjoy and present them in an original way. As a reader, I appreciate authors who breathe new life into tried-and-true plot devices. A book that scratches the enemies-to-lovers itch is You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. An engaged couple, Naomi and Nicholas, have fallen out of love, but whoever calls off the wedding foots the bill. They face every relationship killer known to man: in-laws from hell, nonexistent sex life, issues with jobs...but the biggest obstacle is feeling trapped with each other. Naomi throws everything at her fiancé to drive him away. Through all the immature pranks and hurtful words, something unexpected happens. She drops her walls and takes a good look at Nicholas and at herself. Maybe she's not as ready for it to be over as she thought. Some parts of the book were a bit silly, which often happens in romance, but it's a five-star read for me because the author went outside the box with a brand new trope: lovers to enemies to friends to lovers. Method 2 Look the trope in the eye, acknowledge it, and revel in its full potential. To some, this might come across as cheesy, pretentious, or breaking the fourth wall. I, for one, enjoy it. Not only does this approach earn a giggle, it also lets me know I'm in the capable hands of an author who knows the genre. A great example is The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. The author has a blast with the fake dating trope, referencing it by name throughout. The FMC knows she's living a rom-com, but that doesn't stop her from acting out classics like "uh-oh, we'll need to share a hotel room." I don't mind predictability in the slightest when it's done well and with a sense of humor. What do you think? Do you prefer to read/write what's popular, what's original, or some combination of the two?
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Falling for the Villain is on sale this week for just 99 cents. If it’s on your “to read” list, now’s the time to buy!
In other news, Heart of a Hero is coming along. I’m finishing this round of edits, and the next step is beta readers. I still aim to publish before the end of summer and will announce the exact date soon. I’m excited to share this one with the world! During edits, I changed a major event near the end that crushed my soul a little bit, but I think it’s the push Blue Nova needs to grow. I hope you guys will agree. Well, I’m off to enjoy the gorgeous weather. Even writers need some vitamin D now and then. It’s a perfect day for bike riding here in beautiful BC. Have a great summer everyone! The awesome co-hosts for the July 6 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton!
July 6 question - If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose? If I could assume the role of the main character, it would be a romance novel like The Love Hypothesis or The Hating Game. If I had to enter the book world as myself, I'd have a hard time choosing. I'm too old to attend Hogwarts. Middle Earth lacks indoor plumbing. Westeros has too much torture and lacks indoor plumbing. Hmm... I wasn't allowed to read/watch HP as a kid, so when I was finally old enough to make my own decisions, I gobbled up the entire series in a few weeks. I really want to pick Harry Potter's world, but only if I'm not a muggle and only if I'm de-aged so I can attend Hogwarts. I was always an A student, so imagine my grades if things like algebra and chemistry were replaced with defense against the dark arts and potions. I'd make that Ravenclaw blue and bronze look good. What appeals to me most is flying on a Nimbus 2000. I'm not athletic, so no Quidditch for me, but I'd do a lap of the grounds every evening. I haven't ridden a bike since I was a kid, and I miss the wind in my hair and the scenery rushing past. Does the Nimbus come with a radio I wonder? If not, I could tape one to the handle. Tell me your answer to the question in the comments! Sorry my HP answer isn't super original, but I bet Middle Earth was an even more common one. The awesome co-hosts for the June 1 posting of the IWSG are SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!
June 1 question - When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep writing to the end? If you have not started, why do you think that is and what could help you find your groove and start? The going has been tough for me lately. As I write this, I just returned from a last minute trip to the U.S. for my Grandpa's funeral. I didn't write the week before the trip because I was busy with travel prep, and I'm not writing this week either. I was gone only four days, but there are so many tasks to catch up on. I'm also feeling de-motivated by grief and missing my family. I haven't seen them often since moving to Canada, and I don't know when the next time will be. I plan to give myself the week off from writing. My kids need attention from Mommy. As I write this blog post, my toddler is hovering at my elbow and whining. I just hope I'll be able to find my groove again. People at the funeral kept telling me how proud Grandpa was of my writing. He had a strong work ethic, and I think his example is part of the reason I'm so disciplined. He was my last remaining grandparent and the one I was closest to. Maybe I'll place some memento of his on my writing desk to motivate me when I'm feeling low. I did come up with a few exciting ideas for my story while I was sitting in airports, so I think it will be a good sequel if I ever sit down and finish it! The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. This group is all about connecting! The awesome co-hosts for the May 4 posting of the IWSG are Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon! May 4 question - It's the best of times; it's the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)? The best times are when I receive positive feedback. After a contest win or glowing comment from a reader, I could take on the world. My highest high came from the first flash fiction contest I won. Competition was fierce thanks to the prize pack that included $500 cash and a $100 Tim Hortons gift card. It seemed impossible to win, but I entered anyway. An irresistible idea had popped into my mind when I saw the writing prompt. Like a barista blends dairy and coffee, I blended a meet-cute with Tim Hortons new cold brew beverages. I hit the 500-word limit precisely, making each choice count. After submitting, I daydreamed about the piles of apple fritters the gift card could buy, then I went back to loading laundry into the washer. The entry period was long enough I forgot about the contest. All my attention was on editing my first novel. When I received the congratulatory email, I jumped and squealed and ran circles around the kitchen island (silently, because my kids were napping). I CAN write! They like me; they really like me! Apple Fritters! Thankfully, no one was there to see it. Aaand the lows… I feel low when I read something amazing that I could never have written: How did this author make me cry over the death of a character I hated when first introduced? I'll never be that good...I'm a fraud! I get discouraged when circumstances conspire to keep me from writing: One chapter took a whole month...I'll never finish these edits! My lowest low comes when I feel trapped. When I feel I have no influence over my life or career and I’ll die a bitter old woman filled with regret for all the dreams I never accomplished. So emo. I combat the lowness by escaping to write in my head for a bit. Even on the busiest days, I can do that for a few minutes. The episode of DS9 I watched last week sparked an idea. What if I combine the Orion Syndicate, a cool bad guy inspired by a movie poster I saw at the theater, and a main character with a personality unique enough to be memorable but generic enough to be relatable… If I like the scene I conjure, I jot down an outline. It might make a good book someday. Let me close with one final thing. A few moments ago in a blog post right exactly here... It's May the Fourth!!!  Artwork by Lucas Marangon, via Pinterest, courtesy of Cheezburger As a proud nerd, I can’t ignore a date like this. In honor of this auspicious day, I've prepared the following memes for your enjoyment. (I'm using the gallery feature for the first time, so I hope they show up okay!) May the Fourth be with you, always. *All Star Wars images from Pinterest
It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! The purpose of the IWSG is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. This group is all about connecting! April 6 question - Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audio book? Nope. This month is a short answer for me. I know nothing about audio books or how to put my work in that format. It's one of the many "nice to have" features I'll get around to someday. Right now, my focus is writing. I plan to finish the series I'm working on, market it, then complete my other WIPs. Lately, the plan has stalled, and I’m frustrated. I'm editing book two of my Heroes and Villains trilogy. Or, I should say TRYING to edit. I thought I'd be further along by now. Good grief, I wrote the entire first draft in one month during NaNoWriMo, but the editing is snail-like. Everything conspires to bog me down. My kids get sick. I get sick. My husband has evening meetings multiple nights a week. Family is visiting. My kids get sick again. I'm only on chapter ten out of nineteen. Barely halfway. I tell myself I'll get back on track next week. Just like I told myself last week. Sorry this post is a downer! I'll end on a high note. My favorite show is back on TV! The Masked Singer brings a smile to my face every week. I know it's a silly concept, and sometimes the "celebrities" are people I've never heard of, but when somebody truly cool is unmasked, like Cyclops or McTerrier... *chef's kiss* See you next time! I'm co-hosting the blog hop on May the Fourth! Starting Monday, April 4, Falling for the Villain will be on sale for 99 cents on Amazon. If you've been waiting to purchase the ebook, now is the time. The sale will only last a week, so don't delay!  It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! The purpose of the IWSG is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. This group is all about connecting! March 2 question - Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not? I have a WIP this question applies to. It's a short story that’s mainly fiction but with autobiographical elements. The story explores a difficult experience from my teen years. I suspect anyone who was ever a teenage girl has a similar story. Without getting into specifics, something happened to show me unequivocally what everyone in my social circle thought of me. I was pathetic to them. That lesson stayed with me even when I had the chance to reinvent myself in later years. I couldn’t seem to move past the bedrock impression that I was somehow less than everyone around me. I became pathetic to myself. I've never written anything remotely true, so it's a bit scary. What if people realize which characters were inspired by them? What if someone thinks a character was inspired by them when it really wasn't? Will people think I’m whining about something I should’ve gotten over years ago? And most important: Is it worth exposing this bad (and humiliating) memory to the world? The answer is: no, it's probably not worth it. But I'm going to keep writing it. I'm not conflicted about writing the story. I'm conflicted about letting people see it. So, I'll write, edit, and see how it looks. If I can mask the truth enough that no one will recognize it, I'll put my story out there. If it's good enough, I might even submit to a competition or two. I think it contains some themes others might relate to. What about you? Have you ever been conflicted about writing something? Have you ever written anything true(ish) and worried it would offend people? I'm famous! Well, not quite...but I was in the newspaper this week. The Langley Advance Times had a story about me on the first page of the Arts and Entertainment section. Here it is for those who aren't lucky enough to live in Langley:  You can read the full article here.
Announcement Time And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for. It's time to announce the title of book two in the Heroes and Villains series. The sequel will be called: Heart of a Hero That doesn't give much away, does it? When we left Aubree, she'd just received an intriguing offer. If you're anxiously waiting to find out whether she accepts, you'll get your answer when the synopsis is released. Until then, have a super day! (That pun is incredibly versatile and will be used in many more blog posts!) It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! The purpose of the IWSG is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. This group is all about connecting! February 2 question - Is there someone who supported or influenced you that perhaps isn't around anymore? Anyone you miss? I have a feeling this topic will be emotional for many of my fellow bloggers. I look forward to reading everyone's heartfelt posts! For me, the person who comes to mind is my favorite college professor, Dr. D. He taught Literary Analysis, the weed-out course for English majors. Freshman year, I took the class with the other professor who taught it...and I did not pass. Failing made me question everything. How could someone who got straight A's in high school fail at a freshman level college class? Was I cut out to be an English major? Without a passing grade, I couldn't take higher level literature courses. With fear and trembling, I registered for the course again, this time with Dr. D. He too had a reputation as a tough grader, so I fully intended to drop the class and change my major if I still couldn't cut it. To my surprise, things made sense this time. Dr. D's teaching style connected with me, and I finally understood how to develop and support a thesis. When I received my first graded paper, the drop/add deadline was near. Nerves on edge, I found a quiet spot to open the envelope. There, at the top of the page, was a big, beautiful B. At that moment, I knew I could do it. Although his classes required rigorous work, I enrolled in as many as possible. I even took classes from the professor who'd failed me. Now that I had a solid foundation, I excelled under her teaching too. A year after graduating, I went back to campus for a visit. Dr. D made time to chat with me over coffee. I was self conscious to admit I worked at Yellow Pages, publishing phone books. Not quite the glamorous career of an editor at one of the big five publishing houses. However, he was excited for me, saying how great it was that I’d found a job in my chosen field, regardless of what I was publishing. From then on, I held my head high when telling people what I did for a living. That was the last time I talked to him in person, but he was always present for me and all his students over social media, ready to cheer each success. The last thing he said to me was "Nice, Kim!" when I won a flash fiction contest. He passed away suddenly a few months ago. Most of the students who offered tributes to his memory spoke of how frustrated they were when they received their first F on a paper. Gradually, they came to see he only tore them down to build them back up. For me, it began differently, but like the other students, I'll always remember him as the person who challenged me and made me a better and bolder thinker. I am so thankful for the privilege of knowing him and for the positive impact he had on my life and my writing. |
Falling ForeverNothing fancy, just my thoughts on the writing journey, creativity, and life in general. Archives
May 2022
CategoriesFalling for the VillainLike superheroes? Love romance? This novel is for you!
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