Confessions of A Writerholic

It's already hard enough to research 18th century France, but it is even harder to find books set before the reign of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette and/or the Revolution, so, I am at a standoff. I keep telling myself that I don't have to keep my books in the same decade--Regency writers jump around within the first thirty years or so of the 1800's, so why can't I? I'm thinking it has to do with connected books and my brain being computed to want my books to connect in some sort of way. But I don't want to be in France and England before the American and French Revolutions, but there are either lots of books on the reign of Louis XIV(sun king), or there are lots of books on Louis XVI, and hardly any in between. And it is frustrating. I know that if I had money, I could just go to ebay and amazon.com and snap, have those books I need, but of course I don't have the resources to do this.

And then, it also comes down to a marketing sort of thing. I want France, I do, but would an English setting gain more attention on sellability than a France set one? And then, I am a "new author" that has no track record, and seeing how France is the "kiss of death", should I write the first two books in a more traditional setting and then spring the non-traditional settings afterwards? It is a case of writing what I want and writing to sell a book. That infernal balance that plagues unknown authors.

And THEN, this book is darker and sensual in tone, but the other books that I am thinking of that are to be loosely linked to this one are sensual and humorous like Betina Krahn's old books. Lydia Joyce said that her publishers want her to write two more gothics, but what if the second book was a quasi-humourous-sensual gothic? Gah! I know I am worrying about things that have yet to occur, but I always look down the road ahead because I believe that what you do today, will effect your tommorow and I don't want to be lost in the sauce from the get-go.

posted by Angie @ 12:38 AM

OKAY, so I am going to do it!



Today, I kicked Mr. Procrastination in his butt and wrote out the character sheets of Seraphine,Bastien and Marie-Sara, as well as taking the plotting advice of Elizabeth Boyle and Lisa Gardner by writing down all of the scenes floating in my head on a bunch of notecards to be put in order later on. SO, I am going to use tommorow to plot my paranormal/historical series and wednesday to plot that Blaze/Temptation idea I have been putting off.

I'm not going to give everything away, but the paranormal/historical series is going to be Buffy-meets-Stephanie Plum-meets-Fanny Burney. I have the faint sketchings of the plot and the heroine(except for her marriage status--widow or debutante,widow or debutante? Or maybe even on the fringes of society because she writes!) I don't know, but I am still excited over this idea. I'm hoping that it will become like a Anita Blake/Sookie Stackhouse/Stephanie Plum sort of thing. And you KNOW that I will have a dark and sexy vampire that may or may not be the hero.

But the Blaze/Temptation idea(I'm torn between which line it is going to be. It depends on the hotness of the book. But then again, I heard that because of the Blaze line, and everyone trying to write for it, the Temptation line has lots of vacancies.) has been discussed before, so it doesn't need to be rehashed again.

Alot of people on my writing loop recieved rejections from Arabella Romances today or yesterday. I'm thinking that because they were swamped, they just cleared house. Two people have sold--one woman on the list wrote Dueling the Debutante--so it's not that they are rejecting everything. Word is, they have too many contemporary stories and not enough historicals. If that is the case, I may whip out a short story to introduce the aforementioned heroine in order to gain recognition to the character. And hey, not only is it a historical, but it is a paranormal--something else Arabella is looking for!

And, I am loving the 18th century. Well, not the smallpox and the unsanitary conditions and the poverty and the slavery--but everything else is cool! It is rather hard to find things on 18th century France that is pre-revolution, but I will do what I can. And hey, the 18th century--especially France--isn't as well known so I can fudge on things a bit. But I do think I shall stay here a while: America,England,France,Venice and Scotland.

posted by Angie @ 10:00 PM

I feel surpremely ripped off.



Why? Two words: Black Silk.

I adored The Proposition and Untie My Heart and I assumed that Black Silk would be just as good. Well, you know what assume means. Now bear in mind, Black Silk doesn't suck. It's just a book that will rub you the wrong way if you go into it expecting it to be a "regular" romance.

This book is so not the typical romance novel and while I commend Judy Cuevas/Judith Ivory for taking a book to a different level, I am still disappointed.

I have the original version that was published under the Judy Cuevas name in 1993, so I am wondering what is the difference between this one and the reissued version, but that is a moot point. If you go into this book expecting the hero and heroine to recognize their attraction for each other within the first 5-7 chapters, then spend the remaining chapters doing things while fighting their love, you are totally off base. Not only the does the hero spend most of the book with his mistress, but the heroine doesn't even recognize her attraction to the hero until much,much later in the book.

The book starts off slow. Now with Judith Ivory, she has this odd/unique voice that if you are a very fast reader--like me--your eye will trip over sentences because you are used to a speedier pace in the paragraphs--that was a problem I had with the first three or four chapters of Untie My Heart. But the thing is, is that the book starts off slow and only speeds up about 10% throughout the remainder of the book. Basically, this book is a sort of day-day,week-week,month-month in the lives of Submit and Graham.

From the title(Black Silk) as well as the publisher's selling point on the back of the book (the most sensual romance of the year), you will be decieved. This book is as sensual as a toad. Submit and Graham don't kiss until the last third of the book and then the love scenes are within the last 40-50 pages. There were some bright,bright spots in the book that made me think that the pacing would speed up and the sensual romance come forth. But then it went back to its monotonous tone. If Judith had a chance to write this book over(and perhaps I should use the elements that I liked...it's not plagarism!!), those kernels would have made this book excellent. As it is, I would give this book an A for the level I was taken as well as the smooth,if boring voice and a D for the romance and plotting. Which comes out to a B.

AAR gave it two DIK reviews, but I think it was because they were overtaken by the luster of La Ivory and because everyone expects her books to be great(the same problem I have with Mary Balogh). Or maybe they knew what they were getting into and came to the book with no preconcieved expectations. But I tend to agree with Mrs. Giggles' grade of 88.

This isn't Ivory's best book, and if you do end up reading it, expect to read a book that is more of fiction with romantic elements than a romance book.

posted by Angie @ 6:54 PM

As you can see, I finally got around to adding links to my blog. There are a good amount of author blogs out there, but I only added the ones I visit on a regular basis.

I'm hearing some good things in the publishing world: gothics are back! Well, maybe not the Victoria Holt type gothics that I love, but whatever I can get, I'll take. And on the plus-plus side, the book that I am working on now is sort of gothic(YAY). As I was saying in my last post, I will write to accomodate the market, but slide my own thing in along with it. But the thing is, I wasn't even planning on writing a gothic-ish book, it just happened to come out like that. Could that be a sign that it is my time? Hmm.

But anyways, I found a new author website, Sylvia Day. She has a blog, which is always good because I am a nosy person. But it also makes me want my own website to be up. Not that I have lots of stuff to put on it, but it's the principle of the matter.

My writing schedule is going to be much,much looser than before. Writing for two weeks straight not only cramps my hands, but it pushes my brain a bit too hard. So, I am going to write this story over the entire month of July. Not only to keep the creativity flowing through my brain, but to keep myself from pressuring myself to get this story out and therefore, mess it up on accident. I also think that I shall use my time off to write some other stories I've been putting off for the past two months.

posted by Angie @ 5:08 PM

I am now fully able to immerse myself in the world of Louis XIV...


...and nearly cleared the French section of the library out too. On top of grabbing bios on Louis XIV, his brother, his sister in law, and his mistress; I grabbed letters by two members of the French court as well as the letters of the aforementioned sister in law to the king. I also grabbed some interior books. As well as some French fairy tale books. And I couldn't resist grabbing a few books about 18th century France(including a book with Marie-Antoinette's letters) and a book on what France was like under Napoleon(because I've always wondered and no one ever touches it.). I had to refrain myself from touching books on Venice and consoled myself with a quick re-read of one of my favorite Rosaline Laker's: The Venetian Mask. But I will get there somehow, someway. I was thinking of having one of my heroines be and opera singer....hmm. And also, during that time period, France expelled all the Huegonots(french protestants) and some fled to the Netherlands, American and Britain. So there's some plots there too. Isn't this wonderful?

I've come to terms with this time period. I don't want to be like everyone else--in anything. And then, it's like this: how do they know what the market wants if they've never tested it? Of course the market is going to say that Regency set historicals are the thing if that is all that is being published. But seriously, when I submit, I am going to sneak the time period and setting under the radar. I really think I shall stay in France too.

I did get to read three of the books I bought: The Hostage Bride, The Souvenir Countess and The Proposition. All get big fat B+'s from me. There were a few tiny tweaks that caused them to slip from A's, but I am very satisfied with my purchases at this point. I don't think I shall read "Beast" just yet, because my story is based off of Beauty and the Beast(Cupid and Psyche as well, and a Jill Tattersal book) and I don't want elements from Judith Ivory's story creeping into my book--because things like that happen with me from time to time(and not just writing, I can mimic a singer's voice near perfect[I can SING on my own though],stuff in that vein)

But anyways, I shall reading those research books and listening to my Esthero CD.

posted by Angie @ 1:13 AM

Fast tidbit:


I'm planning on writing a very loosely linked series. By loosely, I mean that: it isn't going to a family and it's not going to be a group of friends that vow something corny or other. Characters that make cameos in certain books might get their own book. That's how I am going to do it. Making books into an actual "series" always inhibits me--because I don't like to read books and know that they are a "series" because 9 times out of ten, the series is based on something corny--especially the ones where the men vow to never marry. Whoohoo, such suspense there. It's a frickin romance so you know they are going to marry. I wouldn't mind that premise, it's just that most of those premises aren't executed very well, because as soon as the hero meets the heroine, he's in lust with her. Good grief, why can't he abhor her or something? But that's neither here nor there.

In my research, I discovered that in the late 17th-early 18th centuries in France, fairy tales were all the rage in the aristocratic circles. So, I am going to use fairy tales as the basis's of my linked stories. Oh, I'm not going to be obvious by using the Disney-ish fairy tales, but am going to read each one that was written by a French person and find one that fits with my plots. The one that I am working on is based off of Beauty and the Beast. <---Yes, Disney made that movie, and I love it, but my interpretation is darker and is going to be closer to the roots of the true version.

I'm not sure whether I shall be cracking open a Grimm fairy tale, because they are GRIM, but who knows?

posted by Angie @ 1:08 AM

I don't usually post twice in one day, but I had to. I just had to. Is it a epidemic of ugly covers for Avon Romantic Treasure Authors? I have yet to see Julianne Maclean's, but Laura Lee Guhrke's and Linda Needham's covers are atrocious. I mean, Linda Needham's back cover is passable, but the front; it is HIDeous. Laura Lee's cover for Guilty Pleasures was pretty--even though that shirtless picture was rather ugly, but it had something to do with the story so, whatever--and the colors were nice. But for her latest one, the colors are UGLY. Come on, what was the art department thinking putting periwinkle blue and yellow-orange together? I know that blue and orange are complimentary colors, but that doesn't mean they go together like peanut butter and jelly. Ugh, I don't know whether I will be able to read either one of those books unless I bind the covers. Hopefully, the back picture on Laura Lee's book will make up for the front cover.

posted by Angie @ 7:10 PM

I went to my local used book store and picked up 8 books--some of them I bought because I've been hearing alot about them:

Lynsay Sands-Bliss (I'd been wanting to check this out from my library, but they didn't have it)

Jane Feather-The Hostage Bride (I've read the 2nd and 3rd of the series and adored them[note to self: buy those two], so I picked up the first in the trilogy.)

Betina Krahn-The Last Bachelor (I've heard so many great things about this book by my favorite author.)

Anne Stuart-A Rose At Midnight (LLB said that this was one of Anne Stuart's best from Avon, so I picked it up. Another thing that made me gravitate towards this book is because I LOVED Prince of Swords.)

Joanna Novins-The Souvenir Countess (When it first came out my eye kept dropping onto it, but I didn't have any money, so, I bought it second hand.)

Judy Cuevas-Black Silk (I've read Untie My Heart and loved it, I tried to read Sleeping Beauty but couldn't get into it [note to self; try it again], so I wanted to try her again)

Judith Ivory-Beast

Judith Ivory- The Proposition


That is a nice haul for 12 dollars. The thing that I've noticed is, that during the interim of not writing, my subject/writing/voice/whatever has gotten a bit darker than before. I'm probably not as "dark" as Judith Ivory or Anne Stuart, but I'm not Julia Quinn or Karen Hawkins--even though I've never been them anyways--but it seems that writing books set in France has made the tone darker than setting it in England. Hm, that is so weird.

But speaking of reading, I read--and am still entralled with--Iris Johanson's Lion's Bride. I can't even describe why and how I love this book. It is so emotional and suspenseful and sexy. That is exactly how I want to write. If you haven't read that book, go read it now.

I'm also trying to find Michele Hauf books that were published by Zebra, but I know it will be a tough find, but I like tough finds, how else would I have dug through piles of books to find Betina Krahn's Avon's?

But I am going to try to get to the library--for the third time--to trade in these medieval books and get the Louis XIV era books,lol. I am crazy. I think I might also pick up some Restoration England books as well even though I'm thinking that the French set books will be in the late 17th century, which is after Charles' death and into William and Mary and Anne's reigns. But we'll see how that works out.

posted by Angie @ 4:40 PM

I'm not even going to apologize for skipping around time periods and ideas. And you know why? Because I just realized that that is how my mind works and how I brainstorm. It's like a science experiment. You test the hypothosis on a number of variables to see whether you were correct. Or something like that, I haven't taken a science class in three years. But anyways, I have this artist's mind that as to take things apart and try to fit them somewhere. And then the fact that I love history so much, that whenever something historical catches my eye, I get ultra excited about that time period or idea before I realize that I don't have a plot. Which brings me back to now. France is still in to some extent, but medieval is out. I'm going to set the series in either 17th or 18th century France. The heroines are still going to be fighters, but in a more civilized world. Now, if I am to set these books in France, I am going to have to search,search,search because history books about France are so hard to find in the library. I'm thinking that that is the reason why most historical romances are set in the Britis Isles-an abundance of research books. But if that doesn't work fully, I have to wing it.

But I'm mulling over how to fit these women into society. Should they be bodyguards/governesses? Or Jack(Jane)'s of all trade? I'm not sure. I'm going to have to think long and hard over this.

But anyways, the ultra darling Mima is going to be designing my site for me--which is being hosted at the horrific geocities at the moment because my comp is so slow and I didn't feel like waiting half an hour to set a new server up--and it is going to be lovely. I know it is. The funny thing about having a website for me being an author, is that I am still in fansite mode. As in, I view my website as the fansites I run/ran. It's so odd not to have to need buttons and banners and stuff. Hmph. Oh well.

posted by Angie @ 1:57 AM

This is such a rip off.

I watched the second season of "America's Next Top Model" religiously. Partly because nothing else was on, I like reality tv, and the show had to do with the fashion world. I had just pondered that they should have a contest like that for Fashion Designers. And lo and behold, when I was watching Access Hollywood last night, I saw that Heidi Klum was hosting that exact sort of contest. Not only was I mad because I-usually in the know-did not know a thing about it. So, I moseyed on over to the website and another bombshell: you have to be 21! Now, I will be 21 next year, but if they hold the tryouts at the same dates they did this year(in June), I'd have to wait until 2006 because my birthday is in July. I'm disgruntled now. But oh well, there's still GenART, even though I have to wait for the 2005 contest to start up.

Goodness I have so much art stuff going on in my life.

But with the writing, it is a fight to yank my brain from the Regency pattern and into other time periods because I've read so many, and all of the new releases that are coming out are Regencies. So its trying to find backlists in order to submerse myself as well as reading history books. It is so hard, dangit.

posted by Angie @ 5:13 PM

We live in a sexist society...


What brought this fact home to me was when my friend brought up the movie "The Notebook", which is based on a "romance" novel by Nicholas Sparks. It has been an ongoing battle for us romance writers and readers to gain respect for the genre, but when a man writes it, everyone praises it. Nicholas Sparks and James Patterson are two male writers who write romance, but they don't call it that. But it is still romance. Don't tell me that TN isn't a romance story because it is.

But the world is sexist. I bet you that none of the excellent,excellent romance novels published over the past twenty years will ever see the light of day on a Hollywood producer's desk. And how fair is that? Not fair at all. It really makes me disgruntled.

But anyways, I am still trying to get to the library to check out some research books. I hate not having a car or liscence and I hate not having any money. Oh well. I'm still trying to figure out where to place my story. Changing the nationalities of the hero and heroine isn't going to happen because they argue with me whenever I try to, but there is a large span of time during the High Middle Ages when the English and the French were at odds, but I'm torn whether to set it during Henry II-John's reign or in the 14th century. Which brings me back to needing to get to the library. Dangit.

posted by Angie @ 5:57 PM

Condescend: verb to assume an air of superiority.

A certain person of my aquaintance subjects me(and sometimes other people as well) to this attitude. My fatal flaw had blinded me to this to some extent, but now that it's been applied to me three times, my blinders are off. (Perhaps I can write the songs that have been nagging at my brain for a while now that I am in a sufficient rant mood.)

My fatal flaw: wanting to be friends with people that seem to be "cool" in order to have some of their shine rub off on me. It's abated somewhat from my school years, but it is still there. It comes from being marginally accepted by people ever since I was in kindergarten. I'm a pretty confident person other than that. But in each of my interests, my fatal flaw comes forth. Whether it be fashion, writing, painting, musical instruments or songwriting/poetry, it assails me. Remind me to work on that.

But getting back to the main subject. That said person has always been condescending and superior, and I think that their recent success has gone even more to their head. First of all, I would like to say thank you to that person for giving me permission to make up historical facts and circumstances for the sake of fiction. <---That was sarcasm if you didn't catch that.

What am I talking about? I'm talking about that medieval series I've been babbling about over the past few days. I've been struggling with the heroine's name and so I asked a few people on a writing group I'm on for help in picking a name from the small list I compiled. And our resident royal ruler responded. Not to help me out, but to ask what story the name was for. I let it slide, on the slim chance assuming that they wanted to know what the story was about in order to obtain the context of the story.

You know that is not what happened. The Royal(that is what I am going to call that person) only asked that in order to tell me in the next post that 1) Female knights didn't exist and 2) why would I write a story based on that.

1) Not only did I get the story idea when I found refrences to female knights on the internet, but hello? Joan of Arc, as well as the fact that there have been strong and/or warrior heroine's in some of the medievals I've read.

2) Who is The Royal? The storyline police? Is because they are a contracted author, they have the last say on what should be written and what shouldn't be?

I thought that the purpose of the group was to uplift each other, not put others down in some sort of ego, unconcious effort to feel as though one is better than the others. The Royal is one of those people, that when you succeed, you just show your success and don't even rub it in because they are just so very wrong.

When I first came into contact with The Royal, I respected them and their talent as well as their tenacity and work ethics. But now, knowing them a tiny bit more intimatly, that respect is gone. I don't even think I'd feel right in supporting their career if they feel the need to be subtly nasty to others. It's just as bad as that other NYT bestselling author who slammed into me over something so stupid.

But now that I look back, The Royal's entrance into my aquaintance is suspect. I don't know whether The Royal had just joined, or had been lurking, but all I know, is that when they first posted on the writing loop they didn't do what everyone else did ("Hi, my name is such and such, I write such and such, writing history,etc.) The Royal's first post was to tell everyone that they finaled in a prestigous contest. Yay. I'm happy for ya. But couldn't The Royal have told it in a less smug manner?

I truly feel that The Royal needs to step back and assess their motives as well as their personality or they will end up alone and alienated. Sure, everyone's mission in life doesn't have to be to win the world, but if your attitude is horrible, it just does and it needs to be altered.

The second time I'd been condecended to, I was angry and was having serious doubts over staying with the group. This third time has me on the tip of the ice berg. I'm going to wait out another week or so and if I get The Royal Treatment once more, I am out of there. Being subtly snubbed and slammed isn't what I'm looking for in a writing group.

posted by Angie @ 5:10 PM

Take a Breather...




When is the line drawn between submitting everything you write and "collecting" rejection letters?

I personally have only submitted two query letters to Avon--who accepts email query submissions. Great for those who aren't exactly plump in the pockets--and have gotten rejected on both times only because I hadn't fully studied the art of crafting a great query letter. I've yet to submit to an agent because I want to come to one with a publisher's deal on the table.

BUT, is there a reason that you have to submit everything you write for a learning experience? I have 6 or so unfinished MS's and 4 finished ones that I know are crappy. But why would I submit them and get rejected, therefore messing up the lines of communication between me and an editor or me and an agent just to say that I've submitted to someone? I want to submit when I am positive that I am at my top performance at the moment.

I don't consider 80+ or so rejections to be something to commend someone over. If that person hadn't jumped the gun and felt as though they didn't accomplish anything just because they haven't submitted it to an editor/agent, they wouldn't have gotten rejected. I'd say that they deserved it for not honing their craft and not studying the market down to the minute detail.

And truthfully, I am a little leery of someone who has been writing for 5+ years and has nothing but rejections to show for it. It is obvious that 1) you haven't paid the slightest bit of attention to the letters and/or 2) being an author might not be your call in life.

Sure, people bring up the multi-million dollar best sellers who were rejected hundreds of times before someone took a chance on them. But firstly, the publishing market was 100% different in the 80's, 70's, 60's and back then they are now. I mean, even 5-7 years ago, the market wasn't as tight as it is now. The Historical romance genre was still flourishing. The chick lit craze had just started, traditional regencies were garnering 3,000 dollar advances(according to the '97 publication of "How to Write A Romance"). So with that, you cannot even compare your career with people like Stephen King or Nora Roberts,etc. Secondly, everyone's path to publication is going to be different because we are all different people.

By now, some of you may think that I am some know it all sitting here and telling you what to do when I haven't even done it. But that is the point of my post. When is too much submitting too much? Why not start another manuscript and see whether your writing has improved between that first story and that second story? For the past 9 months, I have done that. Finish one. Start another. Back to back to back(I quit school to write full time BTW). And as I look back on my stories and my plotting, I have come a very,very long way in a short time and am very pleased that I didn't get anxious and jump the gun.

My advice is to take a breather and remember that your path isn't everyone else's path and that if you keep looking at what everyone else is doing, you'll psych yourself out and/or write tons of "drivel" because you want to play catch up with people that are further along in their career than you are. I struggled with that during the beginning of this year when I kept reading about what everyone else was doing and wishing that I was there. I am going to be there, but rushing it and forcing myself to get there will only amount to headaches and pages of writing that you know deep down isn't your best work.

posted by Angie @ 12:50 AM

I feel like the BIGGEST loser in the world right now.


Why? Not only because of the fact that my mind leaps from plot idea to plot idea, but the plot I am working on now, keeps leaping from time period to time period. It keeps skipping from restoration england to medieval and back. The main problem I KNOW, is that I am frustrated by the fact that I have no idea what went on in a day to day basis in Restoration London because there is so little sourcework available. Sure, I've checked out a good amount of books on the subject, but it isn't enough. The majority of the books I have are mainly on the religious and social history of Stuart England with a moderate emphasis on the Restoration era. But I don't want to screw this up. And by my having this large hole in my research, my plotting keeps stalling and I can't fill in the gaps between the scenes inside of my head.

People say "write at the scenes you see", but not only can I not do it, but I feel as though I am floundering because I have no freakin clue how the story is going to end. None whatsoever. All of the other novels I've plotted and wrote I saw the end. But this, I can't and it is so maddening. I don't want to go ask the people in my writing loops because they'd probably take it as I'm a spaz and I shall never write, just be stuck in the plotting/idea loop for the rest of my life!!!

What doesn't help, is that I want to write in all of these different time periods, and have sketches of plots for them, but because I can't see the end of a few of them, I feel so indicisive. It is just so frustrating. Especially when I have these different genres floating about in my head. Not only do I have straight historical romance plots, but my paranormal historical series, BUT this black chick lit idea that popped into my head as I was going to sleep two nights ago. I want to write them. I do. But nothing is meshing in my head, or sticking in my head.

1) Restoration plots (2)
2) Georgian America/England plots (3)
3) Medieval plots (1--actually, I got inspired by the Kinley McG, Betina Krahn and Jocelyn Kelly series' as well as this site I found on female knights.)
4) Victorian plots (2)
5) Regency plots (2)
6) Black chick lit plot
7) Paranormal historical series

I'm so torn on what to write because there are gaps. But here are the plots that are at the top of my mind:

1) Restoration spy
2) Georgian Boston thief/con
3) Female knights in medieval england

I feel so bad because I haven't written a thing since the second to last week of May because the Darius/Maxine story Wore Me Out. Should I take this month off? Because I've been writing for 8 months straight--since last november or so and maybe the strain(mental and physical) is finally catching up on me.

My birthday is July 1(20th) and I'm wondering whether July is my month. My month for good luck or something. I had this dream like...two months ago where I found 1020 dollars in Ralph's. Numbers mean things alot, and I'm wondering whether 10/20 is the date I sell. Or 1+0+2+0=3? I dunno. Things like that are so subjective. But I'm not going to stress and stress about this or the headache that has been hounding me will intensify and stress leads to high blood pressure and HBP can lead to death. And I'm not trying to die just because of some writing.

Oh well...I'm just going to plot and chill possible.

posted by Angie @ 3:43 PM

Kinley MacGregor's bio has really motivated me. I'm also out of that plotting funk that I had been sunk in for the past week thank the Lord and am totally refreshed.

The way I can tell that this MS that I am plotting is completely different, is that scenes are floating about in my mind and all I have to do is piece them together. Not just plot scenes, but dialogues, movements,etc. It is stupendous and I just know that this story will be so, so good.

I also have the starts of three other plots; another Restoration and two Georgians(American & England) that I am excited about. I think that if I can, I will do like a few of the bestselling authors(Kinley,Teresa,Jane,Betina) and jump around through time periods. I don't want to be stifled by writing in one set period because it will grow stale and my inspiration will dry up.

ALSO, as I was surfing the AAR At The Back Fence message board, I was suddenly struck with this idea that had been culminating in the back of my head for a long time. We were discussing Vampire HEA--which I don't buy at all, which is why I cannot read vampire romances--and whether they were plausible, as well as how strifling the vampire romance is. And so, I love BTVS and I love historicals, so...why not combine them? If/When I do this, I know I am definitely going to do a Kinley/Sherrilyn type thing, except that the vampire novels will be a series with the same heroine and possible hero-sort of like Stephanie Plum in the historical era. Fun Fun Fun. But I'm going to have to finish writing at least two Restorations or One Restoration and One Georgian.

But right now, I am just thankful to God that my mind is working again. And read Kinley's bio, it is really inspiring.

posted by Angie @ 5:39 PM

Today, I was so frustrated, I cried.


Why, you ask? Because I was planning on spending this week plotting out the first Restoration set MS, but nothing was fusing cohesively. And I was just sooo frustrated. I know this is the period for me, I know it. I've been wanting to write in the Restoration Period(Elizabethan as well, but that shall be a bit later) for ages, but ever since I quit working on Darius' story, I've felt drained.

And so, after I prayed for a bit, I realized what my problem was: I was trying to fit the plots I had made for Regencies fit into an era that, while the stories might work, the entire backdrop and backbone is a total 360 from the Regency era. Sure, vice was somewhat rampant in regency england, but it was under the covers and the atmosphere of that period compared to the restoration period was totally different.

So I sat back, and just relaxed--b/c I had been stressing over this and getting headaches--and allowed a plot to form in my head--without trying to find inspiration from the numerous Regency novels that I've read. I realized, that historical romance plots should reflect the time period you are in--they aren't interchangable, no matter what others may think. And I was remembering that Rufus Sewell movie I watched on A&E a few months back and recalled Louise de Kerouac-the french mistress of Charles, who was also a spy. And then a plot sprang from that. Tommorow, I shall be delving into characters as well as the rest of the plot, but I am calm, and happy, and thankful.

J.Lo's married. PFFFT. Her career is going to go plunging down the toilet. Is the girl so desprate to be with someone and be married and have the picket white fences and fame that she is going to marry a man whose divorce only got finalized last monday? And was getting a divorce b/c he cheated!? J.Lo forgets that her career is based more on her image than her talent-unlike most other hollywood stars-and if her personal image keeps tarnishing itself, her career will end up in the gutter. But oh well, she can live her life the way she wants. I hope she's happy.

I'm thinking of putting some things up on my empty website, but let's see. I detest unfinished websites, so the thought is iffy.

posted by Angie @ 12:58 AM

My time period(for the time being): 1558-1730


Elizabethan,Stuart,Very Early Georgian. It's quite a large time gap, but so many interesting things happened in those time periods and I've decided that those will be mine. It's not too late where it will be Regency-ish, and it's not too early where it will be too medieval-ish. Not that I have anything against medieval; I just don't want to write in that period just yet. Because when I do, it will be ALOT of work.

I also want to write in different countries. I will definitely write books set in Versailles(France) and the bloody vendettas of Italy, but England is my main focus at this moment.

Because of my time period switch, for a few days, I was afraid that I could only plot Regency set romances because I was unable to find a plot, yet, I could whip out a Regency plot in a heartbeat. I not only had to calm down, but I had to jerk my mind out of Regency mode in order to do this. And now, I have plots for two books set in Restoration England.

That pesky Georgian plot is still floating about, as well as that Early Stuart plot. My R&J plot is going to be a short story as well as my contemporary cooking plot. I'm going to work on developing my Blaze idea(I finally read some at the library. While some of them I couldn't read because they were so...retarded. Some were pretty cool[Or hot,lol])

posted by Angie @ 12:35 PM

"When you get comfortable, that means it's time to move on".
Those were words of advice from my senior year Government teacher Mr. Savorn, that have stuck with me for two years.

And I realized that I had sort of fallen into a lax state in my writing. No, I wasn't slacking by taking huge breaks from writing, but I wasn't being challenged. It was a fairly easy leap from reading regencies to writing them because there are so many out there, that if you read a large amount, you'll most likely glean what you need to write about. Sure I did research on the time period, but not deep down,trench warefare type research-like I am doing now. And it was very lazy of me. I appreciate the Regency genre for helping me learn how to write, but at this stage, I don't feel as if I will be writing one until years down the road.

The decline of the historical romance had been rumbled about on my list three weeks or so ago. But you know why it is? Because there is no diversity. Scotland or England. Regency or Medieval. It's as if there's an epic of xenophobia when it comes to writing and/or publishing a book whose setting is outside of a country whose language isn't some form of English.

Pot calling the kettle black, you may say-in referral to my writing in the Elizabethan era. But you can't change things overnight. It happens gradually. And I'm hoping that I can be a part of the tiny percent of authors who submit stories that, whilst they fit into popular genre, have a spark to want people to thirst for more.

--

What is driving me to write. Besides the obvious love of; slights.

I've been slighted by three people within the past two weeks. Whether it was intentional or unconcious, but it was a subtle snub. Formerly, I would allow my resentment of those people to eat and eat at me until I was too paralyzed to do anything. But in my maturity and God-given wisdom, I realized that the attack wasn't my fault, it was them. Something about me either threatened them or just put them on the edge and if so, I shouldn't take it as a personal affront against myself. Friction is a natural thing.

But it has made me want to strive to be bigger, better and swifter than them. Like the chorus from Christina Aguilera's "Fighter"


Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
Makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Makes me work a little bit faster
Makes my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter


In part it's an "HA! Look at me now" thing and the other part, it's a personal victory over the crippling self-destruct I had over myself by allowing others to strip me of my self-worth with their careless words.

But that's enough of that. I will just let you know that I am having a blast researching my period. It is so much fun. I am reading all I can not only to get the cadence of speech right, the daily life or the mode of dress, but also so that the world I create will be so vivid, it will come to life in your mind. I want the reader/editor to just taste the meat patties, hear the sound of a sword being draw or smell the scent of Elizabethan London.

This book--which I have aptly and temporarily named Refuse Thy Name in homage to Juliet's famous lines from Romeo and Juliet-upon which my plot is loosely based--will be my most ambitious yet. I shall have to draw on all my powers of observation to make this one of the most sensual romances ever. And not just sensual in a sexual manner, but using all five senses and more. And I feel in my bones that I can do it.

posted by Angie @ 3:04 AM