The Other Man
I admit it – I’m not always exclusive with my husband. And he couldn’t be happier.
Before you ask, the answer is “No”, we are definitely NOT swingers.
But my secret fling has, in fact, strengthened our marriage, if you can believe that. Because the other man in my life exists only in my mind. He’s a tall, mysterious and sexy, blue-eyed hottie who is delicious enough to eat. And let me tell you, he’s not above biting back.
He often wakes me up in the middle of the night for a tryst. A battle of wills at times (I’m a working woman). But he can be rather unrelenting. So I always cave, kissing my husband on the cheek before heading down to our usual rendezvous.
He insists on music and that I pull my hair back away from my face. When I begin to shower him with attention, he purrs in my head like a contented lion. Away I type, losing myself in his demands to be sated. Not your typical affair.
And nothing unusual to romance writers, since we don’t write characters that make a woman go screaming in the opposite direction (well, sometimes we do). They have to be gorgeous, tempting and able to consume every ounce of a reader’s fantasy, including our own. So when I decided to write romance, I stocked up on some good reads to help prep me for what I was getting myself into. OK, I added a bit of erotic fiction to the mix, but so what. It all goes to the same place.
I knew that I was going to have to abandon some of my prudish ways to accommodate the demands of the readers for that genre. Four letter words don’t make me blush as often these days. And wow, I’ve learned quite a bit about myself through my writing. Getting immersed in the scenes makes the images so incredibly vivid. I clearly see every facial expression, every movement, every action of the character that comes from a place lodged deep inside my head; behaviors that kick my muse in gear. Who knew I had a thing for alpha males?
I’d always written young adult fiction before I took an interest in paranormal romance. Oh what a difference, indeed. It’s perfectly acceptable to write a little sexual tension into a YA romance, but exceedingly fun when the characters are a bit more mature. My YA friends wake me up on occasion too, but it’s more like a child asking for a glass of milk in the middle of the night.
Many writers tend to develop characters based on someone they know. It helps to conceptualize a more natural temperament to such a degree that it seems impossible to imagine the character doesn’t actually exist. I think it’s safe to say that some of my leading men contain elements of my husband. Did I mention tall, blue-eyed and sexy? Now don’t get all weirded out, I’m not inviting you into my boudoir. I said they contain elements, so subtle even I sometimes don’t realize they are there.
Writing can encourage an author to extract the good attributes from the people around them. Bad attributes too, so don’t piss me off. How does this help our relationships? Think about it. That adorable dimpled smile that your hubby greets you with every morning just got all the more classic when you added it to your other main man; an outward acknowledgement of a trait that you treasure. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to find a book of clones in each of my stories. That would be obsessive, boring and completely wrong. Again, subtle. Elements.
Perhaps the biggest reason that my man doesn’t mind sharing me is the fact that episodes with my second amour foster a desire to designate special time just for him. After spending half the morning chasing lascivious demons and dodging promiscuous ghosts out to possess a human body, I’m ready to reign myself in a little and hang with the hubby. Would I set aside those hours in the day for him if I had nothing better to do? Maybe. I can say that I enjoy the moments with my husband, and appreciate them all the more knowing time is limited.
My spouse encourages and supports my other passion, no matter what hot-bodied half-blood awaits me in my reverie. Hell, he sometimes offers insight into the mind of my secret lover. He roots from the sidelines and pushes me when I begin to lose momentum. And that makes him number one in my book.
How does your spouse support your secret rendezvous?
Angels and Demons
OK, I admit it, I didn’t do my homework because…well, I was expecting world annihilation or something by the time my usual Sunday blog post was due. So I procrastinated. But since we’re all still having our morning cups of coffee, unscathed, I have decided to throw together some thoughts. And in the spirit of post-apocalyptic joy, I think I’ll go with one of my favorite topics – good versus evil.
For as many years as Earth has revolved around the sun (and still is) humans have had a propensity to divide the good from the bad; clearly delineating the two. We root for the hero, who is honest and pure, while booing the evil-minded villain (bad guys never get any love!). Writers sometimes make the same distinction in an attempt to cater to the readers’ likes. Good must always triumph! Right?
We of the paranormal world like to blend our black and white to a fitting shade of gray.
Why are we so damn hot for bad guys?
Who knows? That’s a personal question for individual authors and readers, I suppose. For me, there is a certain mystery about historically evil characters. Perhaps a strange side to me that thinks I can change them. Take the movie Hellboy (ok, not worthy of an Oscar but work with me). The main character is a big red, unattractive demon with gimpy horns. Not my idea of Mr. Dreamboat. But why oh why am I tickled pink by the end of the movie when his leading lady finally falls for him? I believe humans, even when faced with the nefarious, have a tendency to acknowledge the slightest hint of compassion. Going back to the movie, the guy denounces his own kind by hacking off his horns, and protects against the dark forces of the underworld. Can we possibly get past the fact that he is spawn from the depths of hell?
It comes down to how the character is developed and what qualities the writer infuses to make us see beyond the cruel, brooding exterior to the soft inner core. Let’s face it – vampires haven’t always had the reputation of being sappy heroes. There was a time a dude with fangs was someone you didn’t want to run into down a dark alley. Now every woman I know dreams of a steamy tryst with the undead. We are embarking on a new era where bad boys have equal rights to a winning personality.
And vice versa.
The same holds true for Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes. It’s not enough to be hopelessly good and save all of humanity in a victorious win over evil. Sorry guys, I like a little dysfunction in my protagonist. Call me crazy, but I want the down-on-his-luck, binge-drinking angel who fell from the heavens for breaking the rules and is thrown into an unlikely circumstance that ultimately saves the world and secures his ticket back to the pearly gates. I want to be challenged when I read. Make me fall in love with this loser by the end of the book!
I’ve attempted to incorporate this dynamic in my latest HALOS novel, where I blur the lines, giving my angels some inner turmoil and my demons a smidgen of charisma. Flawed characters mean drama throughout the story. And they give us something to admire and sympathize. But the catch is, they have to change their situation at some point and begin to rise above it, otherwise we’re just following them down a self-loathing path of destruction. And we can find that on the evening news if we’re that hard up for it.
Whether angel or demon; human or vampire, readers crave a hero. It’s not so much what’s on the outside that counts, but what sinfully virtuous (yes, my intentional oxymoron) attributes are embedded deep within.
How narrowly do your characters walk the line of good and bad?
What Makes Your Writing Rock?
A scenic place? The cute barrista at your favorite coffee shop? Inhuman contortions of your body during meditation? Many writers use some form of stimulus to incite binging and purging of ideas like a bulimic master of prose. For me, it’s music.
Here is where I confess something very nerdy about myself and my hope is that I don’t lose fans because of this: I was a band geek. Ugh, I said it. Not the kind who rolled her eyes by the time 6th hour approached; the bona fide ‘Band Pride’ type. Now before you track me down to give me a wedgie, let me explain myself.
Unlike most high school Marching bands, I had a cool teacher who didn’t mess around with the songs of Dorkdom. In fact, my most memorable moment in band (and because I had a short attention span for school activities, memorable moments with any one sport for a given amount of time were very few) was playing House of Pain’s, “Jump Around”, at a football game. I’m about to offer up some insight into my age here by saying that the song happened to be popular at the time, and the crowd loved it. What I remember most, was how it added to the tension of the game.
High school bands have come a long way since the days of “Pomp and Circumstance No. 1 in D Major.” And, my gosh, has anyone else seen that kickass video on Youtube of the George Mason University band playing RATM?! Check it out: http://youtu.be/gqG4oSfQYIY Maybe you wouldn’t necessarily jam to this in your car (maybe you would), but if you heard that at a game?? Whoa.
I was a cheerleader in high school too, so I wasn’t entirely consumed by geekness.
Music has a way of influencing people. It can build adrenaline, triggering electric pings of excitement to surge, depending on the song and the situation. Take an ordinary baseball game and add a little “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse – you’ve got a heavy shot of cool infused in an otherwise not-so-memorable scene. And by the way, while we’re on the topic of sports and song, I have a bone to pick with the Chicago Blackhawks. Can someone please explain what the hell “Chelsea Dagger” has to do with hockey? Grrr. Thanks for taking one of my favorites and sucking the awesomeness right out of it.
That aside, let me explain how music affects my writing: sometimes I just happen to stumble upon an extraordinary tune and Boom! A story is born. Other times, the chicken comes before the egg. I might have a rough sketch of the character in mind, but need to add a little bit of soul. iTunes to the rescue. I happen to like Alternative and am a huge fan of songs not typically droning on every radio station across the globe. Finding a newborn song that embodies my character’s personality is like being able to find a matching bikini top and bottom in my size at PacSun – rare but exciting when it happens. And for me, lyrics are key. Even if the rhythm is rockin’, it’s kind of hard to write a love scene when the singer is crooning about gouging his eyes out with toothpicks. Spoils the mood, know what I mean?
Once I marry the lyrics and beat to the perfect character or scene, a bouncing baby story is sure to follow. I’m in the zone. And if we’re talking word count here, the right song can crank out speeds of 1000 words an hour; which typically only happens to me when certain Earthly phenomena are involved.
So for funsies, here is a list of my top five songs for writing (I will not be held responsible for linking any goofy videos that should have been better envisioned for the song):
- Sail by Awolnation
- Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine
- Here We Never Die by Sister Crayon
- Undisclosed Desires by Muse
- These Days by the Black Keys
What’s on your playlist?
What’s Salt Worth These Days?
Are online writing workshops worth the trouble?
I suppose if you’ve got major publishing contracts smacking you in the face because you happen to be blessed with flawless talent, then perhaps no. But since this is the real world, and even the most distinguished writers can use a little help from time to time, the workshops are the way to go. Critique Circle, Scribophile and Writer’s Café are just a few of the workshops you’ll find on the web. What do they offer, you ask? Here goes my list again….
1. Getting your work edited essentially for free
You’re toiling away at this chapter for DAYS, and after a while, you’re beginning to question whether or not you’ve spelled 1st grade vocab words like ‘the’ correctly. Sound familiar? You need feedback and you’re so desperate for it, you’d consider having your sister’s brother’s niece’s friend’s eleven-year old cousin read it (she offered at her 2-year-old sister’s birthday party after all). An enticing offer since every other time you show up with that 5 lb. stack of papers you call a manuscript at friend and family barbecues, they all scatter like high school kids at a keg party after the cops arrive. Part of the problem? It looks like a master’s thesis and at this point, probably reads like one too.
This is where the workshops can help. Imagine a fantastical world where experts are chomping at the bit to get their greasy hands on that juicy turkey bone of a manuscript you own. Ok, that’s a bit far-fetched. But you will find eager readers who are jonesin’ to get their stuff posted, even if it means having to lumber through yours first. Hey, it’s better than having to beg, right?
My personal favorite is Scribophile, though Critique Circle works much the same way. Membership is free, but you can upgrade and enjoy additional benefits of the site. The beauty of both of these sites is the currency in which they are founded. You earn points to post your writing by critiquing others. In turn, your work is guaranteed at least 3 critiques. Whohoo! Finally, a little attention!
Make no mistake, these sites are not only comprised of wanna-be authors desperate to get out of their day jobs (who, me?). You’ll also find a delightful assortment of real-life writing professionals such as freelancers, editors, teachers and those with graduate-level training who are just as interested in feedback as anyone else. Grammar and punctuation aren’t the only issues that will be addressed in your writing. You can also expect feedback on plot and character development, pacing and tension; all the cogs that power a great story.
If you’re considering publication (and who isn’t these days?) this is a great way to get a glimpse at what the big dogs in New York are going to think of your work before you send it off.
2. Social Networking
If you missed what this benefit means to me, check out my prior post, Baby Steps, and you’ll see why this one soars to the top of my list.
Writing is a solitary activity. Even if you prefer to do it in the company of strangers by sitting in the local coffee shop, chances are, you’re not there to chat it up with the other patrons. Take a look around, writers are often times sitting in the farthest corner of the room, earphones plugging out the world, noses buried in laptops with expressions that warn, “Approach me about anything and I’ll annihilate you with laser beams.” Even the busboy heeds the threat.
This is exactly why writers need to get off their calloused duffs and make some human connections.
So long as you can take serious criticism for your work without plotting vengeance in return, workshops are a place where beautiful friendships can be forged. I describe it as stumbling upon a huge playground where everyone wants to play the same game and they all know how to share. And if you’re lucky, you’ll come across some gems that you socially bookmark. Yes, this is where I insert a shameless shout-out to my personal gems: N.B. Charles, JABelfield, and Aimee Laine.
From these brilliant writers, I’ve learned not only based on the critiques they’ve given me, but from their critiques I can read for others on the site as well. Some, I’m just inspired by their personal stories that don’t sound too far from my own. The advice is fruitful; the encouragement and camaraderie, priceless.
3. Gaining Confidence
Am I good enough to get published? Should I even bother?
I can’t tell you how many times this has rattled the cage of my mind. We all have our insecurities, but it couldn’t be any more obvious for writers than if we painted our faces and dressed like clowns. I never formally studied writing in college, and I still can’t tell you when to appropriately use whom versus who in all cases. All I know is that I love to write.
Family, friends and coworkers might go so far as to give you the candid responses you’re looking for. But if you really want to know the answer to this question before you toss that bloody t-bone out to the lions, ask the ones who will give it to you straight. There’s a sense of validation when another writer offers a thumbs up for your work. Even if you can’t seem to tackle New York, you have the confidence of knowing someone somewhere in the world thinks you’re good enough. And by golly, that’s something.
Scribophile allows you to post and repost darn near an infinite number of times (though I’ve not personally tested the infinity part), so your writing has the opportunity to gleam with polish by the time its ready to send off. If you stick with the site, you’re guaranteed to become a better writer by editing the work of others. In time, you’ll develop special Agent Goggles and for the first time, you’ll understand why it was so important to get feedback to begin with (whoa, what was I thinking when I wrote this??). That alone is worth its salt.
If you decide to join Scribophile, I highly recommend checking out Critiquing 101—Words of Wisdom in 5 Easy Steps by Aimee Laine. It takes the fright out of the whole process by giving insight into what to look for before you delve into someone else’s work. A great article for newbie critiquers.
Keri Lake 