Showing posts with label 10 Day Writing Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10 Day Writing Challenge. Show all posts

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Best Bloggers in the 10 Day Challenge -Day 10

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

This is it! The final day of the 10-day challenge. And I must admit, this is one of my favorite of all that prompts.

Day 10: List 5 top blog posts from fellow participants in this challenge. Link to them, and say why you enjoyed them.

Yes indeed! I had the opportunity to check out quite a few of my fellow challenge writer's posts, and I truly enjoyed it.

Amanda L. Webster's Day 1 post on whether writers should blog about writing summed up beautifully how I feel on the subject. She includes the fact that reaching out to teach others can actually teach ourselves, something I touched on in my post about my bizarre writing habits.

Roxanne Crouse's Day 1 post was an elevator pitch that I really enjoyed, plus I could totally relate to her waiting on a magic thought that would shove her progress along. I wish!

Catherine Mede's Day 2 post about writing confessions had me nodding and laughing. I admired the bravery in posting publicly things we all think as writers, especially that we aren't good enough. 

Catherine Mede's Day 3 post ...Catherine had me again with her author "bio", since she first talked about what goes into a good bio before applying it to her own. Bravo for an informative post!

Charity Tahmaseb's Day 8 Writing Routines post cracked me up! I laughed when she shared a dialogue she has with herself about writing. Too true.

~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Friday, October 25, 2013

Antagonist turned Heroine -10 day challenge day 9

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

Day 9: Post either a setting or character profile from your latest fiction project, a chapter summary of your non-fiction book, or a discussion of the theme or object inspiring a poem, article, or other writing project. 

I'm just gearing up for NaNoWriMo, and my project this year will be DISARMING COWBOYS, book 7 and final of my Lone Wolves of Shay Falls series. My basic profiles are rough since I flesh them out with individual character plot arcs. I also do a birth natal chart on characters, and I've included just a little of that here. Here's my character profile on Jayel, the female MC who up until this final book was a recurring antagonist causing all sorts of shenanigans for the wolves.

Jayel Louise Turk: Heroine
(antagonist in books 1-6)



   Age/birthday : 21 
Occupation: None (living on inheritance and odd jobs while busy hunting down the werewolves who killed her parents)
Physical Description: 5’8, fiery red hair, charcoal eyes, athletic, slightly upturned nose, delicate features that contrast with her hardened disposition
Personality: sarcastic, intelligent, highly determined. Desperate. In the past, more humorous and relaxed, and glimmers of that come through more as the book progresses.
Background: Lived with her parents in Shay Falls and was about to leave for college until the werewolf attack that killed them. Her brother was taken and turned by the pack. He was working a nearby ranch but had come home for the weekend for his sister’s going away to college party.
Internal Conflicts: Bitterness/anger about her parents’ deaths and the loss of her brother to werewolves. Vows revenge, which drives most of her actions. Feels guilt that Jayson was taken because had he not been home for her farewell party, he wouldn’t have been there for the attack. Ultimately, she will be challenged to face her two worst case scenarios: becoming a werewolf's mate and becoming a werewolf, period.
External Conflicts: Werewolves are after her because of her vendetta, and they capture her. Worse, two of the wolves at the ranch are interested in her for other reasons: they claim she's their mate. There is much indecision about what the packs want to do with her, and the primary alpha responsible for capturing her has the worst in mind. Plus the wolves who killed her parents return with other plans in mind, plans that could not only mean her end, but cost her brother his life as well.
Notes:
Sun in Leo

She is masterful, likes authority, aspires towards an ideal. A little too pretentious and always wanting things. She likes to give advice. She is honest, frank, loyal, open and sincere.

Weaknesses: pride, vanity, arrogance, presumption and disdain of others.

Moon in Virgo

She has a very good memory. Scientific or medical studies preferred above all others. She is humble and moderate, calm and reserved. Emotional discipline. She is willing to help, devoted and gentle.

Weaknesses: servile nature, frequent changes of occupation, gets annoyed, upset, worries. She is too shy.

Mercury in Leo

Ambitious, sincere, loyal, friendly and full of good cheer. Great sense of organization. Likes children and leisure time.

Weaknesses: likes to play games too much and can go too far, in spite of herself. Likes to play-act and do about-turns, which surprise and upset those concerned. Likes to take risks in jest and for amusement.

Venus in Leo

Sincere, frank and warm affections. She is full of tenderness. High hopes of love. She likes to live and satisfy her passions to the full. Protects and makes friends with those who can be useful.


Weaknesses: excess in pleasure and amusements. Haughty, boastful, pretentious: she is affected, and seduces for the sake of seducing to prove to herself that she is attractive (this gets worse with age).

~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

My Bizarre Writing Quirks -10 day challenge day 8

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

Day 8: Post about your writing rituals/habits/quirks

Quirks? Gee, it's like this challenge knows me. I frequently practice writing habits you don't see in "do this and succeed" articles on the craft. Allow me to bare my soul on a few highlights.

1. Frequent distraction is good for my word count.
You may have thought there was a typo in there, but there's not. I, like many I've commiserated with, am distracted by the internet, music, and the need for tea frequently and without warning. My short attention span had been a source of increasing alarm for me in the past few years-- until I moved. We had no internet access for over a month, and since I was off the distraction grid I had all sorts of grandiose ideas about how my productivity would soar. Nope. My writing completely flatlined. Seems that I NEED to stop, drop, and roll at the bidding of my flitting mind. So now I embrace the madness and skip off to Pinterest or YouTube when the mood strikes.

2. Two words: tribal drumming.
Drumming gets people moving, usually on their feet to sway to the rhythm. Me, it lights my creative urges. I can't count the number of scenes, from the naughtiest bits to deadly chases or wolves howling through the trees, that have been fueled solely by the power of wild pagan drums. Said drum music ideally has no lyrics, for otherwise I often find myself singing along in my head instead of "hearing" the words I'm supposed to write. There are exceptions, of course. Hymn to Herne by S.J. Tucker is a favorite, as is just about anything from Dragon Ritual Drummers or C.G. Ryche. And if I happen to hop up and dance around the imaginary fire for a minute to stretch my legs and get the blood flowing, so be it.

3. Teacher, teach thyself
I've had plenty of occasions over the years to share tidbits about craft, and whenever I do it reminds me that I'm the one still learning. My "student" will have a new idea I'm excited to try, or else a technique I'm recommending to someone else is one I realize I should be applying to a project on my own back (or front) burner. So I've come to believe that while there's a time to learn by reading/listening and a time to learn by doing, there's also a time to learn by teaching. 

~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

My 1 - 2 Punch Writing Software -10 Day Challenge Day 7

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

Day 7: Profile 2 books you’ve read and loved lately-or describe the software and tools you use for writing.

I do love to read and have pounded back quite a number of books this year, but truth be known I've been off that wagon lately because of the pre-planning rush for NaNoWriMo.  Since I'm in that "zone", I'll highlight a couple pieces of software that I love for writing.

Character file using OneNote
OneNote (Windows)- This comes packaged with Microsoft Office, and I had totally overlooked it until a writer friend mentioned it. OneNote is like a virtual scrapbook I can add text, images, music, and video to. I can make outlines, detailed character files, etc as shown here, but most commonly I use it as a general ideas/inspiration notebook. I make a new notebook for each book. I know a lot of folks who use Pinterest as their inspirational scrapbook, and while I love that idea, this goes me one better. I have the ability to group images and unlimited streams of text together on a page (like the character file shown here). Plus if I hear a song that strikes me as great inspiration for a particular book or scene, I can import it right into the notebook so it'll be ready when it's time to write.
Outlining with OneNote


An awesome feature of OneNote is that I can grab images --or just a selected area of an image--right off the net and send it straight to the exact notebook page I want it on whether OneNote is currently open or not. Handy!   


Characters side by side in Scrivener
Scrivener (Windows or Mac) -While I love the versatility of OneNote, sometimes I find it a little too free-range and want something more plug and play. That's why I use Scrivener as my primary outlining/character file tool. The cork board feature is brilliant. It lets me add little virtual index cards in nice neat rows that snap into place. It's perfect for outlining. I can easily move the cards around when I'm working on the order of a scene (or book), but they automatically stay nice and neat. Like OneNote, I can also add images/video and "clip" them right to my notecards, plus I can type endless streams of notes and ideas that are visible when the card is clicked on. There's a split screen function that will let me pull up an image so I can see it while I'm typing. Importing images takes a bit more doing than OneNote, however, and requires the program to be open. Also, I can play music files right within OneNote, and Scrivener doesn't do that.
Outlining in Scrivener

Because each of these has advantages the other doesn't, I use both together. When I REALLY want them to work in tandem, I use Windows 8 split screen mode so I can have the OneNote scrapbook open on half the screen while I work in Scrivener. Best of both worlds! 
~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Newbies, Ninies, and Warriors -10 Day Challenge Day 6

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

I took a couple days off for my regular Snippet Sunday plus a special NaNoWriMo prep post yesterday. Today, instead of my usual Too Yummy Tuesday feature, I'm jumping back into the 10-day challenge and will be doing consecutive posts until the conclusion.

Day 6: Profile 4 writing-related sites you read regularly

I should preface this by saying my list contains sites I SHOULD read more often than I do! 

Ninie Hammon - The newest on my go-to list is fast becoming a favorite. Ninie offers unrelentingly useful advice on everything from 10 Essentials to a Dynamite Story to 3 Basics Will Revive Dead Dialogue.

Warrior Writers -Kristen Lamb's blog features posts like How to Make Sure Your NaNoWriMo Project Isn't a Hot Mess. Need I say more?

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing - Bestselling author J.A. Konrath's blog is the hands-down winner for the straight dope when it comes to publishing independently. Everything from press releases to cover art to whether it's really worth it to promote is covered in a funny, user-friendly format. Konrath is an "open book" on the subject of self-pub, even posting his sales figures.

Live Write Thrive - C.S. Lakin offers plenty of punch with her writing blog, including how to "shoot" a novel through the eyes of a filmmaker and using mind-mapping techniques to help with plotting. 

~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

My 3 Best Blog Posts -10 Day challenge day 5

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

Day 5: Show off 3 of your best blog posts
These 3 posts are the top-visited on my blog this year...


3.  The Writing Schedule You Need Right Now
The 3rd most visited post this year: Part 1 of my series on how to find time for writing, plus one often elusive component to an author's schedule-FUN!


2. Why Authors Shouldn't Promote Books on Social Media
My take on the problems involved with shouting BUY MY BOOK on sites like Twitter, why it may have the opposite effect, and what to do with your social media time instead.


1. Paleo Spinach, Strawberry, Bacon, and Avocado Salad
Yep! My top-visited post of all isn't a writing post, but a bomb recipe that appeared on my Too Yummy Tuesday feature. This one's delish and definitely worth checking out.

~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Friday, October 18, 2013

Top Writing Craft Books You Must Have -10 Day Challenge Day 4

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

Day 4: Profile 3-5 top writing craft books

I have devoured a fair share of how-to-write books, most of them in the first couple years of the journey. I do have a few stand out books that I took to heart and affect what I do every day.

1. On Writing by Stephen King
The funny thing about this book is that the entire first half has little to do with writing craft at all. It's autobiographical, detailing King's childhood and early years of plastering his walls with rejection slips. Don't let that fool you--the advice he gives throughout the rest is must-have, solid, down to earth, and spot on knowledge. I credit this book (and the sage wisdom of author Susan McBride, an acquaintance at the time) as the reason I managed to finish my first novel after struggling with it for over a year.

2. How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James Frey
This book showed me all sorts of wonders about constructing conflict-driven plot and three-dimensional characters. It's also a good handbook for finding and sorting out problems with your manuscript. It's a vital desktop reference for any new writer or someone wanting to take their work to the next level.

3. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas
Another go-to volume to inhale like oxygen when you're a new writer. This is a great book for learning how to ratchet up the tension in your scenes and keep characters well away from being stiff and wooden. He also talks about subplots and how to weave them in for added interest. Great stuff.

Run to Amazon or your library and look for these! They won't disappoint. :)


~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Converting People Into Writers -10 Day challenge day 3

12:00 AM 0 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

Day 3: Introduce yourself with your writer bio

I can condense my writer bio into one sentence: I'm so gun-ho about fiction writing that I convinced my spouse he should do it too. 

Hang around me for long and I might be giving you "the pitch"--writing is fun, it's free, and it's for you! I swear, when a co-worker of mine retired over the summer, I was THIS close to picking up a copy of No Plot? No Problem! as a gift and including a note that now she had time to write a novel.

Over the years I've showcased fledgling writers in a flash fiction ezine, judged emerging talent in contests, encouraged numerous people to finish--and publish--the novels bouncing around in their heads, and mentored writers of all ages during NaNoWriMo. One might think with this penchant I have for encouraging up and comers, I might be better suited as a writing coach or an editor. However, I'll admit the person I most want to encourage to write is me.

My enthusiasm for converting people into writers aside, I'm as excited to tackle my next book as I was to dive into writing the first. Maybe it's because entertainment is in my blood (since I grew up in a show biz family), or maybe it's just that I never outgrew my childhood love of a good story, but for me, writing is the ultimate form of interactive reading. Not only do I get to watch a new story unfold, but I can sometimes nudge it the way I want it to go. That said, I also often find myself as surprised as my readers when a plot or character does the unexpected. And after fourteen years of writing fiction, my muse is no better behaved than he was when we first met. It could be that not knowing what he's up to next is what's kept me so inspired to craft the next tale!


~~~
J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Ten Writing Confessions -10 Day Challenge Day 2

12:00 AM 1 Comments
I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing.

Day 2: Make 10 writer-related confessions

1. I don't always write scenes in order.
Most of the time I do, but not always. Generally if I start skipping around, it's to avoid halting a book's progress altogether when I'm really stuck on a particular passage. Rather than digging in and waiting until I can work past that troublesome part, I'll skip it and come back later.
2. I will often stop writing one book to start on another.
Usually there's a good reason for this. Maybe I haven't finished the current work in progress when NaNoWriMo rolls around, and NaNo rules require starting a whole new project. Or I'll see a publisher call for submissions that has a deadline I won't make unless I put aside what I'm working on. 
3. I don't always stick to my writing schedule.
A dark confession to make for someone who blogs about the virtues of the optimal writing schedule, but hey, it wouldn't be a confession otherwise.
4. I'm a two-fisted drinker while I'm writing.
I will almost always have not one, but two beverages at my side while pounding away at a draft: water and either tea or coffee. (Been trying to limit the latter.)
5. I keep a writing goddess statue in my fame area.
Years ago, I crafted a little goddess out of homemade salt dough, fashioning it around a slip of paper upon which I wrote some "sooper sekrit" writing goals for her to keep and oversee. She sits in my feng shui "fame" area. 
6. I'm notoriously easy to distract while writing--and I apparently need to be.
I'll stop to check email, Twitter, my blog, research plot points on Google, answer texts on my phone, etc. when I'm writing. By all rights, I should have zero productivity with such a poor work ethic. Yet when I had no internet for a month and all those distractions were gone, my writing output went to almost zero. Go figure.
7. I don't read my reviews.
I used to set up Google alerts and surf review sites, but I found  it bad for the digestion. I was focusing too much on the few negative remarks rather than on writing my next book. Since I know it's a given that any book, no matter how brilliant, will have its lovers and haters, I decided not to worry about the latter and do my best to please the fans.
8. I get mad at my characters sometimes.
I don't just mean when a character does something that is deliberately irritating in the book. Some characters just  rub me the wrong way, and I have to fight the urge to change what's most interesting about them just to soothe my personal preference. Others will refuse to do what I tell them and insist on having their own way, and darn if their ideas aren't usually better than mine. Know it alls!
9. My muse is a guy.
He's a sexy hunk who smokes cigars (but not inside my house), often wanders around with his shirt off, and leaves without warning on unscheduled vacations and trips to Vegas. He likes to play tough and cracks a mean whip, but he's a hopeless romantic at heart. One Vegas trip included a drunken stop at a wedding chapel, and we won't go into THAT disaster. ;)
10. I don't always believe in the adage "write what you love".
This may well be the most controversial of my confessions, but it's true. Writing is an artistic expression that springs from the soul, true. But it's also a business, a product. Fans want to buy what fans like to read. Sometimes a piece calls out to be written regardless, and I will respond. More often, I like to investigate what readers are currently enjoying and challenge myself to put my own spin on it. That's where the passion, love, and excitement comes in for me--crafting something new and fun I hope readers will enjoy.

Tomorrow I'll be posting Day 3's challenge, a bit about myself. See you then!

My challenge posts:

Day 1: A disarming elevator pitch


~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

A Disarming Elevator Pitch -10 Day Challenge Day 1

12:00 AM 0 Comments

I'm participating in the 10 Day Writing Blogger Challenge that was created over at Hunting Down Writing. Each day lists a different challenge prompt that I'm greatly looking forward to sharing with you.

FYI, I will be taking a couple days off from my regular blog schedule (including today's Too Yummy Tuesday segment) in order to keep up my normal Snippet Sunday posting as well as to begin a 3-part NaNoWriMo prep series. Technically it's not cheating, since the challenge rules say the ten days of posts don't have to be consecutive. Onto today's challenge:

Day 1: Introduce your latest project with an elevator pitch (250 words). 


Disarming Cowboys
Book 7 of the Lone Wolves of Shay Falls series
erotic/menage/cowboys/paranormal-werewolves

A werewolf huntress is captured by a pack before she can take revenge for the death of her parents and turning of her only brother. The last thing she wants is for two of her captors to claim she is their destined mate. To realize this fate, the wolves must not only convince her they aren’t the enemy she’s vowed to destroy, but they must also stand against their own kind to keep her safe and put an end to those truly responsible for her vendetta.

I realize this is less than 250 words, but an "elevator pitch" to me is a 2-3 sentence description I can spout off quickly between floors in an elevator, and I don't talk that fast. LOL.  In any case, I'm very excited about the storyline for this book. I've known since the beginning of the Lone Wolves series that this heroine and plot concept would become the final book, so it's a bittersweet moment now that the time has come. I've had such fun writing about the doings in Shay Falls.

For Day 2 of the challenge tomorrow, I'll be posting 10 writer confessions. Stay tuned!


~~~

J. Rose Allister is the author of more than twenty-five books, primarily romance and erotic romance. A former editor and submissions director, she now works as a mild-mannered hospital secretary by day, naughty writer by night. Connect with her on Twitter or Facebook. She loves talking to people!

Visits To This Blog: