Romantic Novelist Conference - Penrith

First sorry for the silence this week but I have been traveling again - in the UK that is. Now I am sitting in my little room here in Penrith and loving the fact that I am spending the weekend with the a fabulous group of writers. My liver is shaking in fear but aside from that all is well.

My intensive writing time began on the train to London where I managed another 2000 words on Penderrown. I am now just over 70,000 and I see it all pulling together. It's a good feeling, but I do know that this is the messiest draft I have ever written so the real work is ahead of me. Just a few years ago this would have frightened me almost into a state of inability to move forward, but now I know it's really the fun part - carving out a decent book from the muddled mass of words of the first draft.

I haven't yet responded to the comments on last week's post on emotional scenes. The comments have been amazingly insightful and I will be going back to them as I rewrite and work hard with the all important and painfully difficult scenes. Thanks to all who commented and a particular thanks to Julie Cohen - yet again hit the nail on the head for me.

A taste of things to come - a few photos from yesterday here at Penrith with the early arrivals and then it's off to breakfast and then a morning workshop on dealing with the media (well, I am ever hopeful!).....

Emotional Scenes

Barrie Summy, tween/teen author, wrote in the comments of last post that she liked the 'come in late and leave early'. I wish I could take credit for that but I can't. I don't know if I read it or heard it. Clearly I'm having a senior moment. If it comes to me I'll let you know.

Now on to the the focus of this post - Emotional Scenes. I want to look at them from two angles - as a writer and as a reader.

This week I struggled. Demi was forced into a corner that had only two options neither which of she wanted. She had to lie or in this case say nothing which when it all came out would make things much worse (and I know sometimes that this what you want as a writer) or speak the truth and suffer the consequences. Now lying for Demi is a big deal. It's never been her thing yet suddenly she finds she's having to lie for various reasons (don't want to give the plot away here). In this situation, by lying she could have what her heart wants, but she would put someone else at risk.

Now this point had to come some time in the story - it is one of those key moments. We have watched her with this issue of telling the truth or lying and I am now beginning to rope things in.....hence my uncertainly if this romantic cliff top scene was the time. I'm sure I could have found some excuse to interrupt the lovers so she didn't have to face her demons but to be truthful (see even I can tell the truth!) - a clench on top of a Cornish cliff is a pretty dramatic location and image for such a face-off. So I bit the bullet and was nasty (which isn't my nature, unfortunately - I think I would be a far stronger writer if I was but I'm learning!)

Because I was uncomfortable with what I was doing I cut pretty quickly to the chase so to speak and I pulled out of there as fast as I bl**dy well could. In fact the words were hardly out of her mouth before I opened the next scene the morning after with a full cast of characters, but not her lover. Time and a rewrite will tell if this was the best way to handle this moment (but at least is is written).

So as a writer do you struggle with such points? Do to keep these moments of high emotional pain short for your characters or do you let them twist in agony (image of Bugs Bunny here saying AGONY) as long as possible?

Now to the second part - as a reader...what do you prefer? (I'm not sure- so over the weekend I will have a think as I have long couple of drives in front of me and I'll let you know.)

Now onto a few links (Twitter is proving to be a brilliant source of info for me - is it for you?):

Tips for Title from The Paperback Writer (the blog in general is worth a visit as there were some other great posts) This clink came via @thecreativepenn

The other link is Answers to the Top 10 Reasons Not to Twitter here and came via @BubbleCow

Romantic Novelists' Association Blog is Launched

Remember how last month I listed all the books coming in June from RNA members -well now the list will be published on the RNA's own Blog here. The blog will not only list the latest releases but will feature author interviews, q and a, ....... So pleased check it out.

Oh, and there is a possibility that a few of us may be doing live tweets from the RNA conference next weekend (it all depends on wireless availability).

Now I am pleased to report that I did write the scene I was avoiding - well sort of. I went in late and left early but not before I wrote a load of crap before! Thank God for editing.

Now to put head back down and write. thus far today on 200 words!!!

Stuck Point

Penderrown has been moving fairly well but yesterday I hit one of the points where I started looking on ebay, reading blogs, tweeting.......finally closed the computer coerced dd into trying some gardening. After trying to keep her on task for more than five minutes I gave in to the sun and plonked onto the sun lounger with the current read - Nicholas Sparks True Believer.

Now I woke at five this morning determined to achieve at least 1000 words today. It is now 9:15 and I have written 72 and deleted 20. I am still at that impasse. Demi has an issue and a developing relationship is going to force her to face this. You see she can't lie very well,doesn't want to lie, and can't quite get the words out of her mouth - and the relationship is compelling her into it. I have set the scene - romantic cliff top picnic and boom - stop dead.

Why? Well,I suddenly wondered is this time to force her into this corner? Is it the right in the story or for her? Does it fit with the other events taking place? Is this just too soon for the reveal? Does it work with the bloody time line i set up (won't actually knwo this until go back and reread - confession here - I have forgotten some of the stuff I have written)? If I make her face all this now what is left?

So I turned to blog land again - just hoping for something that might trigger something - well anything to be truthful. Low and behold Michelle Styles came up trumps again:

I went and picked up McKee again. He makes the point that character and structure are interdependent on each other. You are designing events to reveal character and so it is a matter of personal choice whether you choose to work on the structure or the character but character and character change cannot be expressed except through the events in the story and the characters' reaction to that story. True character is the choices that people make when under pressure and the pressure can only happen from events that require characters to take bigger and bigger risks.

Her words gave me another way to look at it which far more sense to my addled brain. Michelle frequently posts on 'craft' and almost always she hits the nail on the head for me.

And another link which totally justifies my lounging in the garden yesterday. Relax from Anita Burgh

Where I Work and Links

Two great links today. One for sheer enjoyment - Ben Johncock's blog for The Bookseller had me laughing into my coffee this morning. I had never thought about the comparison of a writer's 'study' to 'the bedroom of our youth' but it's so true.........books, pictures of things that inspire (gorgeous men - for research and inspiration only I hasten to add, exotic locations, words of wisdom..... ). Of course I have a dream study in mind, but generally work on the dinning room table where everything gets swept into a drawer at the end of the day and here in Cornwall I sit in a large red arm chair with my back to the window overlooking the garden as I would never write a single word!

The other link is from agent Jenny Bent on her blog. It's a timely piece (pun intended-see blog) on making your luck by keeping aware of the market, but still writing the book of your heart. Now off to check out if August Rock might not fit the bill that she was talking about with a little tweaking!

Pleased to report that I am writing. It may well be crap but at least the word count is climbing and the plot seems to be moving forward. I haven't yet figured out to tie it all up into the ending I want yet but somehow I'll get there (or at least I have in the last too books!).

Oh What a Night and Links

You know when you are in light sleep and the noises of the night invade your head...well in an old house like this one the sounds are many. In fact I can usually pick out the ones made by the general creaking of the building to the ones made by living things. So at roughly two am I hear a fluttering sound and begin to wonder if birds have managed to nest in the chimney again (some time ask me about the nesting rooks that I had to evacuate). So with eyes closed I tried to imagine which ones could have broken through the defenses at the top. They must be small I thought. Yet the noise seemed closer than the chimney (the cob walls provide tremendous insulation and a small bird shouldn't be heard fluttering).

As DD and I are here on our own she was snuggled up beside me in the bed sleeping so soundly as children do. I rolled away from her and opened my eyes. They adjusted to the dim blue light coming from the alarm clock and there hovering above the bed was a small bat flying in circles.

First reaction was to slide totally under the duvet or run from the room but I couldn't do either because of DD. I looked to the window which I had left open about two inches. This had to be where the bat had come from so with small pillow on my head I dashed and opened it as wide as I could then flung myself back under the duvet leaving the pillow in place. I lay there trying not to listening to the beating of winds going round and round. I prayed that my guardian angel would help this creature back out into the night where it belonged. I pressed the pillow closer to my ears so that I wouldn't hear the noise. I worried about bat droppings - do they have droppings? Do they carry disease? Then my mind went to vampire bats as the mind at night is a funny thing and DD had been reading the directors notebook for TWILIGHT before falling asleep.

Finally the beating of wings stopped and I removed the pillow from my head. I didn't know the time since I had hidden the light from the alarm clock as the eerie blue light didn't help my wandering thoughts....

Despite this I was still up at five! I don't think DD want to know what hovered over her in the night or she will be truly spooked.

I haven't written in ages which is bad, but I am hoping that the typing time off will have given the old brain a chance to build. I am about 20k from the end of the story. As it stands it is Victoria's story (remember she was my villain) which is okay with me. Her journey has been fascinating thus far and this is a very dirty first draft.

This leads to a few links and I won't introduce them as they are too numerous as I haven't posted any in ages.

Via BubbleCow the link here on editing your manuscript (I know it says for children's books but it applies for all work)

The Ten Commandments of Becoming a Published Author from Julie Cohen

From Nina Harrington a fantastic site with so much I won't link to just one part but the whole (however the first posts are great on first drafts....Billy Mernit

Finally I am totally in love with my garden right now. For the past few years I haven't been here to see the roses in their full glory and it is such a treat.

Travel Again

Just popping in quickly to say I won't be around for a few days until I arrive in Cornwall.

The New Me - The Super Me

What can I say? When the going gets tough - the tough get shopping! No, seriously, things are mad here getting ready for summer exodus. Not writing. Not acheiving much but keeping head above water. DD is having leaving birthday/leaving party on Thursday and I'm taking six ten year girls to Wild Wadi. My new Super Hero me will come in very handy but may get a few strange looks!

If you're in need of super powers and I know you arehere's the link.

Thanks for the link Fiona and Liz

Amsterdam Visited But Not Discovered

The trip didn't start well with luggage enjoying the sun at Gatwick while we were in the pouring rain in the conference hotel in Amsterdam.

However once the the bags arrived we ventured into the heart of Amsterdam and that is where this first photo is taken - no comment.

Other than that first meal I didn't really see the city which is a pity however the weather was dire most of the time. Fortunately one evening we were treated to an evening sailing on the Ziederzee.

Simply magic.
The boat was built in 1849 and the interior was rich in the patina of old wood. Once on the Ziederzee we made way only with sail power and the peace of watching the sun set was bliss.

A lively three piece band played music that included a sing-a-long.
A fantastic evening and one that made up most of memories of the trip as the remainder of the time I was working at the conference.

Amsterdam

I've been doing something totally different this week. I've been at a conference helping a friend with her magazine Geo ExPro. They were celebrating their fifth anniversary - hence the champagne. I didn't see much of Amsterdam but the weather didn't help that. I did have a wonderful evening out sailing and I'll post the pictures of that tomorrow.