What time of the day do you write?

I set my alarm to get up at 6.30am, I find it peaceful and I can write undisturbed while the family sleep.  Definitely a morning person, too much noise and too many interruptions throughout the day. I have been known to sit at my computer into the early hours only to wake with my head on the keyboard and rows of the same letter.

 Where do you write?

I have a large messy desk where I surround myself with books, stationery, pictures of my kids, storyboards and a wall covered with images of where I’d like to travel. I’m not lucky enough to have a room with a door I can close, but I do my best writing at my desk, which is downstairs in the rumpus room.   I carry my laptop with me mostly and I’ve tried to write in parks, in the car while waiting to pick up the kids but I find it distracting and difficult to read the screen with the glare.

Is there any particular rituals you do to set the mood / harness your muse?

With coffee in hand I head downstairs, put the washing on. I assure myself I’ve done some housework, start up the computer and check my emails before I open my file to write. I’m a very visual person and like to look at pictures of my characters, settings, even a pair of sexy stilettos. I focus on my characters and think about how I can torture this beautiful hero and heroine.

Do you spend much time reading over the previous day’s work?

I’m a compulsive reviser and it drives me crazy. This is where I have to confess I’m stuck in the re-editing rut.  As long as I have quiet and order with all the things buzzing in me head dealt with or jotted down I’m ready to write. Sometimes the words are ready to flow, other times I reread the lovely rejection letter from Lucy Gilmore or just have a little daydream or meditate.

Are you a plotter / planner or a pantser?

When I started writing I plotted to the very last detail, writing fifteen to thirty thousand words and the story was finished in my mind – dead in the water and I lost interest. Now, I’m a pantser through and through. Once I have my idea, I work out my characters’ internal and external conflicts and my story unfolds as I write – love it!

Do you have a schedule that you follow for your writing time? Are you a goal setter with your writing?

I like to write early every morning and get frustrated if I don’t get my fix. I’m also a member of the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild, a fantastic, supportive face to face critique group and we meet monthly to set our goals for the coming month and share how we did last month. I find this goal process is very motivating and makes me accountable. And the chocolate rewards are a great incentive.

What writing tools do you favour? Long hand, computer …..

A computer is the only way I write now and I love my iMac. I still write ideas or scenes in the notebook I carry, but am always keen to get them into my computer. I love storyboards, everything is there before my eyes, which means I don’t have to remember details. I use pictures as a way to feel the characters pasts or the differences between them in a blink. A picture of a palatial mansion against a rundown old cottage tell me a lot about where the characters come from or their internal conflicts.

Can you name five objects that are always on or near your work desk while you write?

My storyboard, pictures of my kids and my dear friends, a few favourite how-to books, my frog collection, and a book cover, for my yet to be published manuscript, a beautiful friend made for me!

Is your writing space messy, organized or somewhere in between?

My writing space is very messy! I do try to be organized and file things away but with an ever-growing pile of books along with the pictures, articles and magazines I keep it’s a challenge. I know anything I have in hard copy can be found on the net but I’m from the generation that likes to hold the real item in their hand.

What is your favourite form of procrastination?

Researching, reading articles, Facebook and emails are all good avoidance tools. I sometimes wish we didn’t have wireless internet and I could keep one computer internet free. I find my MRWG goal setting and writing buddies keep me on track, knowing I have to face them is a good deterrent to procrastination. Also reminding myself of my desire to see my Mills and Boon Sexy or Nocturne on shelf! I want to hold that book, nearly as much as I wanted to hold my firstborn.

What’s the last thing do you do before you finish your daily writing session?

Usually I have to stop because of family, not because I want to, and I don’t have much time, but I always, always, back up on usb and email the file to my hotmail and yahoo accounts. I’ve lost too much work in the past.

 www.margaretmidwood.com/  To learn more about Margaret, please visit her website.

Thank you very much, Margaret for sharing a day in your writing life.

Drop us an email at cruisin@romanceaustralia.com if you have exciting blogs, events or news to share.

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RWA Merry Webber Blogs

February 1 – Meeting Point with the Science Fiction & Fantasy Critique Group – Jane Quick

February 3 – A Day in the Writing Life of Margaret Midwood– Suz Hamilton

February 4 – Hearts Talk Wrap – Eleni Konstantine

February 5 – Event Announcements – Juanita Kees

February 8 – Group Grants Blog – Janette

February 9 – Cruisin’ with RWA – Juanita Kees

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Cruisin’ the News

Share your good news with us each week and we’ll join you in your happy dance. Congratulations to all our members this week.

• New releases

Members share their new releases with us every week. Keep your TBR list up to date or share a new release with us at cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

February 7 – Kylie Griffin’s VENGEANCE BORN due out in Canada and the USA

• Book Reviews

A review of Rachael John’s ONE PERFECT NIGHT over at Mission: Romance.

•  Contest Wins

Congratulations to the winners of the RWA STALI contest as judged by Ali Watts of Penguin Australia:

1. Diane Hester

2. Imelda Evans

3. Claire Boston

Thank you to judge Ali Watts, Gayle Ash who coped well with the multitude of technical issues and Lis Hoorweg, our tireless contest co-ordinator.

Congratulations to the Emerald Award 2012 second round placegetters:

1. Elise Ackers
2. Charmaine Atalla
3. Lee Christine
4. Tina Marie Clark
5. Carolyn De Ridder
6. Kew Gibson
7. Bernice Greenham
8. Kristie Jones
9. Jennifer St George x 2

Thank you to Leisl Leighton, Section Manager.

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Cruisin’ Member Blogs

Share a link and a short blurb here each week by emailing the details to us at: cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

• Cathryn Hein’s Friday Feast

“This week on Friday Feast I’m thrilled to host Helen Lacey, whose gorgeous Harlequin Special Edition debut, MADE FOR MARRIAGE, released this month. Helen’s talking about heroes who cook (sigh!) and sharing a delicious dessert. Blog commenters not only have a chance to win a copy of MADE FOR MARRIAGE, they also go into the grand prize draw for a $50 Amazon voucher and silver Pandora bracelet. Not to be missed! Thanks, Cathryn”

• Darkside Down Under

February 2 – MAGIC THURSDAY: Shona Husk with giveaway of Brightwater Blood

February 5  – Weekly Overview

February 6 – Winner of Shona Husk’s giveaway announced

February 7 – GOOD NEWS DAY

February 8 – A BITE OF…with Christina Phillips

February 9 – MAGIC THURSDAY ~ Japanese Shape Shifting Animals with Peta Crake

• Historical Hearts

Blogs on interesting facts out of history with the team of Historical writers.

• Kylie Griffin’s Blog

February 1 –  ’Dear Reader’ letter for VENGEANCE BORN – over at the Berkley Paranormal & UF blog. –

February 1 – VENGEANCE BORN countdown … snippet from the book.

February 2 – VENGEANCE BORN countdown … snippet 2

February 3 – VENGEANCE BORN countdown … snippet 3

February 4  - VENGEANCE BORN countdown … snippet 4

February 5 - VENGEANCE BORN blog tour – visiting the ARRA blog

February 5 – VENGEANCE BORN countdown … snippet 5

February 6 – VENGEANCE BORN blog tour – visiting at Mel Teshco’s blog

February 6 - VENGEANCE BORN countdown … snippet 6

February 6 - GUEST AUTHOR: Lynne Marshall – interview with HMB medical author.

February 7- VENGEANCE BORN – Release Day

February 10 - VENGEANCE BORN blog tour – visiting at The Qwillery

• Novel Adventurers

 For readers and writers alike – Alli Sinclair blogs about an old theatre in Argentina that has been renovated into one of the world’s most elegant bookstores.

• Rachael Johns

Rachael runs Theory on Thursday with guest authors who share their craft tips, pain, passion and joy on writing.

• Mission: Romance

“For the month of February we’re heading out into the country with some great Aussie authors and amazing giveaways. Swing by each week and tell us what you love most about rural Australia.”
February 4 – In the Back Paddock with Karly Lane, giving away a copy of NORTH STAR to one lucky commenter.

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Clint’s Cruisin’ Lane

Where would you like Clint to go next week? He’s getting itchy feet, feeling the need to travel. This week he’s been looking at libraries of the world:

• 20 of the World’s most famous Libraries
• 25 Famous Librarians who changed History
• The mysterious fate of the Great Library of Alexandria
• Survivor: The History of the Library

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Enrico’s Pick Six

Submit your blog site link to cruisin@romanceaustralia.com to share with our readers. Enrico hand picks six blogs to showcase every week.

Enrico’s Pick Six this week:

1. Rachael Johns
2. S.E Gilchrist
3. Tamara Gill
4. Valerie Parv
5. We Love YA
6. Anita Joy

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Cruisin’ for Contests

Improve your writing and publishing opportunities by entering the RWA contests.

RBY 2012 is now open for entries. Entries close February 3.

Little Gems 6 January – 27 January 2012: Entries now closed.

First Kiss 20 January – 17 February 2012

Valerie Parv Award 23 April – 4 May 2012 (or until contest fills)

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Other Contests

If you know of another writing contest for aspiring authors, please share it with us here.

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Cruisin’ the Learning Highway

Discover new roads to success with in-person and on-line events announced every Sunday. For venue, date and cost information, please also visit our Events page.

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 Keeping up Appearances

Do you have a guest appearance, launch or blog tour coming up? We’d like to share your celebration here. Simply email us the details and we’ll help you keep up appearances.

• February 11 – Paula Roe will be the Australian Romance Readers’ Association’s guest speaker at their 4^th Annual Romance Readers awards. 
• February 14 – Cathleen Ross and Annie West will run a two hour Romance Writing Workshop.

Where: Willoughby Room at Chatswood Library on the Concourse.

When: 1.30 – 3.30pm and costs $15 (including afternoon tea).

FMI & Bookings: (02)99672917 or contact willpark@willoughby.nsw.gov.au

Places are limited. The session is aimed as an introductory workshop for romance writing.

• March 27 - ‘Behind the Scenes with Anna Jacobs’ – talk with books for sale and signing.

Where: Wanneroo Library, 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo WA 6065

When: 11am

FMI & Bookings: (08) 9405 5900

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RWA Events and Conferences

Follow the link to the RWA Events and Conference Page for more news on the Gold Coast Conference 2012.

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Enrico’s quote of the week

Ah me! love cannot be cured by herbs.  ~ Ovid

From the Quote Garden

Until next week,

Regards Juanita

They are listed below in alphabetical order.

Many thanks to Leisl Leighton, Section Manager.

Elise Ackers
Charmaine Atalla
Lee Christine
Tina Marie Clark
Carolyn De Ridder
Kew Gibson
Bernice Greenham
Kristie Jones
Jennifer St George x 2

1. Diane Hester
2. Imelda Evans
3. Claire Boston

Many thanks to final judge Ali Watts and to contest coordinator Gayle Ash who coped valiantly with delays and email problems.

**Please note that whilst the group are registered with the RWA it is not a requirement that individual group members hold an RWA membership. All who meet the above criteria are welcome.**

If interested, please contact Theresa at ptfuller@tpg.com.au

If you are already part of a writer’s group and would like the opportunity to promote yourselves, your work or attract new members then please contact Jane at f2f@romanceaustralia.com

• January 9, 2012 – 30 December, 2012 – Kim Wilkin’s Year of the Novel ~ Helene Young

A year long course to help guide you through the process of creating your novel in a year, developed by Dr. Kim Wilkins. Facilitated by Helene Young.

Helene Young is a contemporary suspense author. Her first two books, WINGS OF FEAR, and SHATTERED SKY, were released by Hachette Australia. Her third book, BURNING LIES, is due for release in July 2012 by Penguin Australia.

Cost: $445

FMI + Bookings: http://awmonlinelearn.com.au/course/category.php?id=4

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• Lawson Writer’s Academy has a great line up of courses for the year. Classes are run from Margie Lawson’s website using on-line teaching software used by universities. Take a cyber tour before you start your class and introduce yourself.

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• Savvy Authors on-line writing courses
  

Affordable forum-style writing classes

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• Announce Online Writing Classes

Julie Rowe, a former Golden Heart double finalist, moderates the Announce Online Writing Classes list.

The Announce Online Writing Classes list notifies subscribers of around 25 to 35 workshops available each month. Most tutorials are sponsored by Romance Writers of America chapters, but on occasion other reputable teachers are handpicked too.

Interested? Subscribe by sending an email to:

Announceonlinewritingclasses-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

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In Person Events

(Costings Code: M-member, MC-Member concession. NM-Non-members)

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January 2012:

• January 18 to February 15 – Creative Writing Stage 1 ~ Kate Forsyth

When: 6.30pm–8.30pm

Where: Sydney Writers’ Centre

Cost: $395

FMI + Bookings: http://sydneywriterscentre.com.au/coursefeesanddates.htm

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• February 4 – Creating memorable fictional characters ~ John Harman

When: 9.30am–4.30pm

Where: UWA, Claremont, WA

Cost: $169

FMI + Bookings: http://www.extension.uwa.edu.au/course/CC274

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• February 11 – Paula Roe will be the Australian Romance Readers’ Association’s guest speaker at their 4^th Annual Romance Readers awards.

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• February 18 - The Romance Writing Maze: Finding Your Niche ~ Trish Morey 

When: 10.00am–1.00pm

Where: SA Writers’ Centre

Cost: $55 M, $77 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://sawriters.org.au/component/eventbooking/?task=view_event&event_id=41

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• February 18 - Personal Branding Workshop ~ Paula Smith

When: 1.00pm–4.00pm

Where: KSP Writers Centre, WA

Cost: $25 M, $40 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://kspf.iinet.net.au/events.html#feb OR kspf@iinet.net.au OR (08)9294 1872

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• February 18 -Taking the Mystery out of History: Writing Historical Fiction ~ Diane Armstrong

When: 10.00am–4.00pm

Where: NSW Writers’ Centre

Cost: $105 M, $90 MC, $150 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://www.nswwc.org.au/?page_id=3&ptag=february OR (02)9555 9757

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• February 19 - Professional Development Seminar for Writers
  

When: 9am-5pm

Where: NSW Writers’ Centre, Callan Park Rozelle

Cost: $150 for waged, or $135 for seniors and students, plus $10 for pitching session.

FMI & Bookings: Irina Dunn at idunn1703@gmail.com.

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• February 23 - Unleashed Passions in Print ~ Anna Campbell

When:  x 2 session times

Redcliffe Library, 23 February 2011, 2.30pm

Caboolture Library, 23 February 2012, 6.00pm

Where: Redcliffe & Caboolture Libraries, Qld

Cost: Free

FMI + Bookings. Bookings Essential: http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au//discover.aspx?id=97934

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• February 25 -Will You Read My Work? Beta Readers for Beginners ~ Jodi Cleghorn

When: 10.30am–4.30pm

Where: Queensland Writers Centre

Cost: $110 M, $99 MC, $160 NM, $144 C

FMI + Bookings: http://www.qwc.asn.au/courses-and-events/courses/weekend-workshops/will-you-read-my-work-beta-readers-for-beginners/ OR (07)3842 9922 OR qldwriters@qwc.asn.au

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March 2012

• March 10 -Where is the Love? How to put Romance into Your Writing ~ Dianne Blacklock

When: 10.00am–4.00pm

Where: NSW Writers’ Centre

Cost: $105 M, $90 MC, $150 NM

FMI + Bookings: http://www.nswwc.org.au/?page_id=3&ptag=march OR (02)9555 9757

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• March 24 - Michael Hauge is presenting an all day seminar entitled ‘Advanced Story Mastery: Create stories that sell’

Michael Hauge is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top story analysts. During the seminar Michael will expand on his principles for “The Hero’s 2 Journeys”, applying them to both Hollywood and Australian films and episodic series television. He will also reveal the keys to developing High Concept story concepts, creating compelling love stories, and getting the people in power to read your work.

Early Bird tickets – $145.00 until 31 January.

Where: Kaleide Theatre, RMIT Building 8, Level 2, Swanston Street, Melbourne

When: 9am – 6pm

FMI and Bookings: www.epiphany.com.au

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RWA Diamonds are Forever Conference 2012

When: August 16-19, 2012

Where: QT Gold Coast, Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise

***

Anne Brear – A NOBLE PLACE – MuseIt Up Publishing

Cassandra Dean – TEACH ME – Decadent Publishing

Imogene Nix – STARLINE SECRET – Cravings Publishing

Jennie Brumley – THE VIKING’S FORBIDDEN PLEASURE – Ravenous Romance

Jennifer Lynne – PLATINUM PASSION – Amazon

Kylie Griffin – VENGEANCE BORN – Berkley Sensation

Leah Martyn – DAREDEVIL AND DR KATE – HM&B Medical

 Lucy Clark – THE BOSS SHE CAN’T RESIST – HM&B Medical

Melissa James/Peggy Moreland – THE TYCOON WHO HEALED HER HEART/THE SWEETHEART TREE – HM&B Sweet

Meredith Webber – NEW DOC IN TOWN/ORPHAN UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE – HM&B Medical

Nicola Marsh – WHO WANTS TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE – HM&B Sweet

 Nicole Hurley-Moore – CAPTURING BLISS – Pink Petal Books

Sophia James – HIGH SEAS TO HIGH SOCIETY/MASQUERADING MISTRESS – HM&B Regency

Trish Morey/Tori Carrington – SECRETS OF CASTILLO DEL ARCO/IN TOO DEEP – HM&B Sexy

Vonnie Hughes – MR MONFORT’S MARRIAGE – Aurora Regency

I write:

Three words to describe me: impatient, stressed and busy

My worst habit is: stressing

It’s a bit daggy but I love: Billy Ray Cyrus

My day job is: Full time writer/mother/housekeeper/taxi/cleaner…you get the idea….

Saving for: trip to Vegas baby!

I procrastinate by: networking on facebook…notice NETWORKING- work related…honest!

Three things people might not know about me are:  I have an unhealthy addition to Billy Ray Cyrus, I get road rage, I sometimes begin to believe the voices in my head are real!

Favourite author: Diana Gabaldon

Favourite book as a child: The magic wishing tree

Favourite movie: P.S I Love You/ While You Were Sleeping

Plotter or panster: panster with a touch of frantic stressed out desperado

When I was young I wanted to be: Wonder Woman

Latest project: working on a rural fiction novel which splits itself between present day and WW1 in a small rural community.

Thank you for joining us today Karly and for those who want to know more about Karly and her books go to her website http://www.karlylane.com/

 Karly has kindly offered a free PDF version of her book Operation Summer storm to a lucky person who makes a comment. The winner will be announced via comment by Saturday 28th 8:30EDST.

RWA members can take a bite. Contact Kerri Williams to schedule your Blog Bite feature on blogbites@romanceaustralia.com

Today our nation celebrates all the wonderful achievements of our people and what we can be proud of as a nation. It’s the day for us to gather together, share a prawn or two on the barbie and enjoy the great outdoors. Clint has been doing some research this week and has found some interesting facts which he has shared in Clint’s Cruisin’ Lane. Stay safe this Australia Day.

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RWA Merry Webber Blogs

January 27 – Blog Bites: Karly Lane  – Kerri Williams

January 28 – New Releases – Sandie Hudson

January 29 – Event Announcements – Juanita Kees

January 30 – Author Spotlight on Anne Gracie – Juliet Madison

February 1 – Face 2 Face – Jane Quick

February 2 – Cruisin’ with RWA – Juanita Kees

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Cruisin’ the News

Share your good news with us each week and we’ll join you in your happy dance. Congratulations to all our members this week.

• New releases

Members share their new releases with us every week. Keep your TBR list up to date or share a new release with us at cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

Liz Fielding’s LITTLE BOOK OF WRITING ROMANCE has just been released.
This is a straightforward primer for anyone wanting to write romance.

Kylie Griffin’s VENGEANCE BORN due out in Canada and the USA on February 7.

Vonnie Hughes has her regency historical MR. MONFORT’S MARRIAGE being released by e-press, Musa Publishing on January 27.

• New contract

Share the breaking news on new contracts for 2012.

• New covers

There’s nothing we like more than a good cover. Share yours with us to advertise your latest release.

• Top Sellers

Celebrate your top selling novel by sharing rankings, reviews, covers and short blurbs with our blog followers.

• Book Reviews

A 4/5 review for Rachel John’s ONE PERFECT NIGHT over at the Book Binge blog.

A review of Anna Jacobs’ MISTRESS OF MARYMOOR over at Mission: Romance.

•  Contest Wins

The winners of the 14th Annual Silicon Valley RWA GOTCHA Contest have been announced.

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Cruisin’ Member Blogs

Share a link and a short blurb here each week by emailing the details to us at: cruisin@romanceaustralia.com

• Darkside Down Under

January 25 – New column: A Bite of…The Ice Princess by Cathleen Ross

January 26 – Magic Thursday: Nicole Murphy on Australia Day

January 27 – Australia Day Special with Astrid Cooper

January 22 – Weekly Overview

January 24 – Good News Day

• Historical Hearts

January 30 – Wool Crafts from Eras Gone By – Mary deHaas

• Kylie Griffin’s Blog

January 26 – VENGEANCE BORN countdown …  quote from the novel.

January 27 – Guest blogging: Over at the Romance Bandits – I’m in the hot seat with Anna Campbell and there’s a VENGEANCE BORN giveaway!

January 28 – Cast of characters: Kalan – the hero of VENGEANCE BORN

January 31 – Topic: An Author’s Life…with Amanda Ashby – sharing the wealth of knowledge and experience of some well-known authors.

January 31 – Guest blogging: Over at Regency Seductions – Bronwen Evans is my hostess and there’s a VENGEANCE BORN giveaway!

• Serena Tatti 

January 24 – Special guest Tracy Sumner, author of TIDES OF PASSION, awarded the National Reader’s Choice for Best Long Historical, talks about ‘Show, don’t tell.’

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Clint’s Cruisin’ Lane

Clint has had a great time this week researching Australian history and a few legendary facts:

• Celebrating Australia: A History of Australia Day, an essay commissioned by the National Australia Day Council and written by historian Dr Elizabeth Kwan.
• Top Ten Australian Mythical creatures
• Facts about early Australian Literature, authors and themes.
• 50 Must read Australian novels
• Famous Australians

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Enrico’s Pick Six

Submit your blog site link to cruisin@romanceaustralia.com to share with our readers. Enrico hand picks six blogs to showcase every week.

Enrico’s Pick Six this week:

1. Helene Young
   
2. Jane Quick
3. Louise Cusack
4. M J Scott
5. Romance Book Paradise
6. Paula Roe

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Cruisin’ for Contests

Improve your writing and publishing opportunities by entering the RWA contests.

RBY 2012 is now open for entries. Entries close February 3.

Little Gems 6 January – 27 January 2012: Last call!

First Kiss 20 January – 17 February 2012

Valerie Parv Award 23 April – 4 May 2012 (or until contest fills)

~

Other Contests

If you know of another writing contest for aspiring authors, please share it with us here

A lot of writers claim they don’t plot; they write by the seat of their pants, or just “fly into the mist.” I’m one of them, although I prefer to use Robyn Donald’s term — an organic writer. (“Pantser” carries too much of a visual of my granny’s bloomers flapping on the clothesline.)

It’s not quite true, however, that we don’t plot. We don’t pre-plot. We don’t sit down before we write a book, work out a detailed plot and then flesh it out in the writing. Pre-plotting works well for many writers, but there’s no one right way, just whatever works for each of us.

I’ve tried the pre-plotting method and for me, it doesn’t work. I can work out a perfectly good, detailed plot, but the moment I start writing it either the characters morph and take the plot in a different direction, or I get bored because I already know what’s going to happen.

But pantsers do plot. At least the good ones do. Some people pants blind.

The Problem with Blind Pantsing

Some pantsers get all fired up by an idea and write like fury until they run out of steam, and then get another idea and think, “Oooh yes, I can have this happen” and write like fury until they run out of steam and then they think, “What about this?” and they write like fury etc. etc.

And sometimes it works. And sometimes it doesn’t.

The trouble with that method is you can waste a lot of time heading up blind alleys. And doing a LOT of rewriting.

Worse, you can end up with a story that’s a rambling series of sequential events, where the end bears little relation to the beginning, a directionless muddle.

Yes, a story is a series of connected events, but a story must also mean something.

Sometimes I’m almost half way through a story before I know what the story really means, what it’s really about, and then I have to go back to the start to tweak it, change the angle slightly on some earlier scenes, subtly emphasize some aspect.

You can save yourself a lot of trouble by sitting down and asking yourself some questions quite early in the writing stage. Maybe at the first point you’ve run out of steam. I know a lot of people need to start writing, to have the characters interacting on the page before they know who this story is about. Romance, after all, is a character driven genre.

Play before you write

I’d suggest, though, that you play with your characters a little more, rewrite some of those early scenes — not to polish your writing, but trying different scenes and settings to see what is going to bring out the best in your characters. Don’t think of those early scenes as the beginning of your book, but just some practice writing.

You have them meet in an office? Try having them meet somewhere else — a gym, or a train station, or at the scene of an accident. Choose a setting/situation that will bring out a particular characteristic of at least one of your characters, something that’s fun/interesting/exciting/dramatic.

You want your first scene to be a fabulous, “suck-me-into-your-world” scene, and that takes work and thought and rewriting. And something fresh.

You also want your opening scene to give the reader a clear sense of what the book is going to be about.

Once you’ve played with a few possibilities, you’ll know more about the kind of story you want it to be, that kind that will stretch and challenge your particular characters. This will help you define the kind of conflict that will be at the core of the story.

While your characters are coming to life in those early “play” scenes, ask yourself what does each of them want and why they can’t have it? If a character has a visible goal, it helps clarify things enormously. Then you ask yourself what might they do to achieve that goal? How might they change and develop through the story? Playing with possibilities…

What Kind of Story is it?

This then helps to clarify what kind of story you’re writing. Is it a convenient marriage story? Or a forced marriage? A secret baby story? Second chance at love? Revenge? Friends to lovers? Wounded soul? There are dozens of beloved tropes in romance and readers like to know what they’re getting. They also like a fresh take on a beloved trope.

Once you’ve worked out what kind of story you’re writing, you can make a list of some of the pivotal scenes that you expect will go with that kind of story. Eg. the scene where she tells the hero he has a child. The scene where he meets that child. And so on. And then you can decide how you’re going to handle this scene your particular way.

They’ll form the bare bones of your plot. Again they’re just possibilities, not requirements.

Your story needs structure

Next, I think about the three act structure (or the 5 act structure if you prefer) because I know my story is going to roughly conform to that, because all the stories I’ve ever written have, even though I never consciously applied it when I was writing most of them.

I have a noticeboard in my workroom, with a grid drawn up for my current story plan. It has 20 squares, because generally my books have roughly 20 chapters.

The squares are labelled in different colors, for the 3 act structure. (Google the term if this is new to you.) You could also use Blake’s Snyder’s beat sheet as a structure if you wanted — I’ve also found my books conform roughly to his breakdown, too.  Structure, not determinism.

All it means is that I know when I’m getting to chapter 4 (for instance) that pretty soon I’m going to want to add some new element to shift the parameters of the story; a turning point, a new character, a new piece of knowledge, a change of pace or setting, or the rise of a subplot for instance.

Don’t think of this as a must. Thinking “must” is deadly to pantsers, we need to let our muses roam free. It helps me to recall that my earliest books all had this structure. Even though I thought the three act structure was for playwrights and nothing to do with me or my writing, pure story-telling instinct (developed by reading thousands of books) had led me there anyway. Structure is my friend, not my jailer.

So when I’m writing chapter 3 or 4, some part of my brain is sifting possibilities for future chapters or scenes, coming up with possible subplots or turning points, a black moment, whatever.

I always write down these thoughts when they come to me. Sometimes they’re just snatches of dialogue, sometimes whole scenes. And I’ll make a note on a yellow sticky and put it on my story chart.  Some never get used, some become the central guiding light in my story, where everything heads toward that point.

Summing up

All the time I’m writing, some part of my brain is plotting; thinking ahead and narrowing choices between the many possibilities depending on what kind of story I’m writing, what the central thread of conflict and the emerging theme is, and how my characters and story are developing. Like a scout exploring ahead for the best routes.

And thus I plot. Not a firm plan set in stone, but a constantly evolving range of exciting  possibilities.

For another take on “flying into the mist” go to Jo Beverley’s excellent article

http://www.jobev.com/fim.html

So, what about you — are you a plotter or a pantser, and what difficulties have you found with your method?

Anne Gracie’s latest book Bride by Mistake is out now.