Backstory

In most of the books (if not all) I read about writing, they say not to dump the backstory in the beginning. In fact, anywhere in your manuscript. To give the reader small bits in the natural flow of the story.

If you want to read an author who handles backstory rather well, then I suggest Linda Howard.

Getting Closer

I'm so close to the end of editing. YEAH! One scene to add and one to change and then voila! I will be finished.

Then it will be query time!

Personality Test

Saturday during the workshop, we took a personality test. We checked off a word in each row that best described ourselves. When we finished, the speaker said for everyone to count up their scores and look at the next page. There was a large square divided in four colored squares. In each square was a short description of each personality. She said for us to take our top two scores. The highest score is your dominant personality and next to highest is your secondary personality. Those two personalities will be beside or on top of each other but not diagonally.

Guess what?

Mine was diagonally. Too funny.

Then the instructions said to go over it again and try again, this time choosing answers that I might have second thoughts about. So I did. I received the same result with higher scores in the same personalities.

Let’s just say I have some issues with parents or my spouse. I believe they’re right on both counts.

Meeting New People

Probably everyone is the same way, but every time I have a lengthy conversation with a new acquaintance, that night or/and the next day, I dwell on every word and wonder if I sounded boastful, stupid, rude, crude or a know-it-all. During the whole time, I say to myself to be myself and not care. If they like you, they'll like you. Otherwise, nothing you can do will make a difference. Like every human in the world (who's normal) wants to be liked. But I promised myself years ago to always be natural, not degrade myself just to make another feel better about themselves and then I'll know who my real friends are.

At the same time, I love meeting people and though they may not agree with my point of view of everything, I don't have a problem with it. That's why the world is such a great place. Everyone has different experiences that shape their thought patterns. Every time they disagree with me, I learn something new. It's a shame others don't view it that way.

Thankful Friday

Today, I'm thankful I had the opportunity to meet Mary Buckham. Delightful, smart and generous.

Thunderstorms In The South

All day the weather reports talked about storms. As I left work, it was dark and sprinkling. On the interstate driving home, there's a section where you can see a good bit of the horizon. As I reached that section, I could see the edge of the storm outlined with the lighter clouds in the distance. The rain was coming down so thick it looked like streaks of gray paint against the sky. It was beautiful.

Dwelling On The Positive

The other day I was clicking on Followers like I often do when I'm visiting people's blogs. I like to see who's out there reading blogs. By doing that I've had the pleasure in "meeting" two kind and interesting ladies. Hi, Suzanne and gaelikaa!

I came across someone's blog where they posted the positive comments from their contest entries. Note...contest entries, not finals. That was such a good idea. So here are some of mine. Keep in mind this is over a total of 10 years (Yes, that's correct. First contest was 1994, but I waited five years to try again.) and 81 entries.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS (Romantic suspense)

Great writing. Great...everything. Kept me reading to find out what happens next. Very intriguing.
2009 Heart of the West

Excellent job! I was really pulled into this story and really want to read more. You have wonderful descriptions and intriguing plot.
2009 Fire and Ice

Your story is riveting, your voice is strong and your talent as a writer is incredible.
2009 Four Seasons

THE SHADOW HEALER (Paranormal)

This is amazing. The emotion and passion are here in spades. This writer really knows how to hook a reader and make them care about the characters. I was totally lost in this selection!
2009 The Linda Howard Award of Excellence

You've got a great grasp of POV and pacing. I was riveted. The story is fresh and new!
2008 Golden Gateway

I think you have created a dynamic hero and heroine in Thorn and Cassidy. They both have incredible depth, and you've done a wonderful job of taking the reader into their heads and hearts. And the sexual tension is palpable.
2008 Indiana's Golden Opportunity

A SHERIFF TO CALL HER OWN (Contemporary)

All the characters seemed like real people. I loved the flow of their speech and their connections to each other.
2008 From the Heart Romance Writers

A really fabulous entry! You're obviously an awesome writer with a strong, strong voice. There are so many stellar moments in your entry. I fully expect you'll see your stories in print one day.
2008 Book of Your Heart

I fell in love with [the hero] right from the start. You did really good with the dialogue and used it to show motivation and character development.
2008 Gotcha!

THE PREACHER'S SON (Contemporary)

It's a nice twist to have the town see the heroine as a "lady" when she actually was a chorus girl made good. There's an intriguing tension between the perceptions of the two characters and their actual pasts.
2007 Golden Gateway (Harlequin/SR's Wanda Ottewell's words and she placed me first)

Terrific writing. You're a top notch writer.
2007 Launching A Star

I love your voice, and the opening scene proves you have a good understanding of small-town community closeness.
2007 Maggies

DEADLY TEMPTATION: THE ONES (Vampire - 1st person)

Love the dialogue. Good, strong voice.
2006 Laurie

I absolutely love the plot.
2006 The Daphne du Maurier Award

As soon as you sell this (and you will) email me 'cuz I wanna read it!!
2005 Launching A Star

DARK DESIRE (Historical)

You write about sex with unflinching courage. I enjoyed references to Medieval items.
2006 Between the Sheets

THE FEMALE CHAUVINIST (Contemporary)

Love the plot. Unique, fun, with just the right hint of suspense.
2005 Melody of Love

Overall good, tight writing. Multiple scene purposes.
2004 Great Expectations

THE CAGED HEART (Historical)

I think your story idea is really great...intrigued in the beginning by the pile of rags that turned out to be the heroine.
2004 Heart to Heart

This is challenging to have such a tragic beginning for your heroine. I like how you work it.
2004 Touch of Magic

THE CHAMPION (Vampire)

The opening grabs you by the throat and pulls you in. The author has an engaging voice and a good, easy way with suspense.
2003 Melody of Love

TREASURE (Vampire)

This is a very well-written and interesting story!
2002 On The Far Side

PRECIOUS (Vampire)

You write with a true sensual prose style that is unusually vivid.
2002 Indiana's Golden Opportunity

The voice/tone is perky, lively and upbeat.
2002 First Impressions

YEARNINGS (Historical)

Strong plot. Dialogue is good...
1999 Emily

CRYSTAL SHADOWS (Romantic Suspense)

I really like your story line. Pacing is good.
1994 Golden Heart

In the 1994 Golden Heart, two judges included comments. One sent three pages of typed notes and the other eleven handwritten pages. Yes. Way back then they did comment on entries. LOL!

As you can tell, this is not all of the entries, but I tried to pull a variety.

Funny thing. I noticed I received more positive comments about my writing as a craft versus my plots or vivid storytelling as I improved. I'm glad I did this. I feel better.

Contests!

Well, I got the scores back from the last contest I entered this year.

So far this year, six entries and five of them with one manuscript. Most of the scores were as high as you can get, but one judge would always keep me out. Just like in this latest contest.

This last contest confused me. They said they dropped the lowest. So that means my total was 19 out of 20 overall. But I didn't final. I guess the others were all 20's. Plus one of the judges gave me two 10's and one 9, and giving it an overall 9. Huh?

This is so why I hate contests. Well, that and how it depresses me.

Now it's time for me to concentrate on sending out my manuscripts to the people whose opinion really matters.

Flying Through The Air With the Greatest of Ease

Well, it appears I had some problems recently. I missed posting Wednesday and Sunday. Both times I remember clicking on the link to sign in and post, but something waylaid me before I got there.

I've been working on updating the writing groups website with contest info and our romance readers' luncheon. Then I've been working with our group's president on getting her opinion on how the new website will look like for 2010. It's easy to work up a website, but it's hard to make it look good and professional. Considering I've never had a lesson, it's trial and error. Thankfully I'm hardheaded enough to get it done. :-)

Speaking of 2010...what happened to flying cars. All the tv shows set in the future I watched as a kid, especially the cartoon The Jetsons, we were to have flying cars. LOL! I love to fly. I get all giddy when I'm in a plane and taking off.

But I really I wish we had wings and could fly like birds. It would be wonderful, wouldn't it? To soar and be free to dip and sway in the wind. Floating along with the clouds. I even have a partial I've written about a girl who could fly. Not with wings like James Patterson's Maximum Overdrive books. But like Superman. No wings, just tilting her body, diving into the air like it's water. Ahhh.

Another book to finish another day.

Third Place

If you've ever gone to my website and clicked on What Books? you'll see a list of the contests I've finaled in. Nothing consistent, but I have to say at least I got a few finals. One thread you'll see is that I usually place third.

In fact, at work last year, I placed third in most shipments (fifth in the most sales dollars) out of twenty-three customer service representatives.

Now, I wasn't telling you this to impress anyone. Really. But to point out I hit third place in a lot of stuff. I think of it like this: if I were number three on the New York Times best seller list, I would be celebrating big time.

So third place isn't always bad.