Walter Greatshell on Writing

Hello Fellow Writers!

I've been plugging away on my erotic romance "The Art Thief's Punishment" ever since I got a 'revise and resubmit' letter from Ellora's Cave. I think it's going quite well so far. I still haven't heard back yet from Harlequin about the partial they requested of "The Movie Star's Very Personal Assistant". I watch the mailbox daily with my fingers crossed that they will request a full.

I've been going to my second Advanced Writing Workshop at WCC and working on "Snowed in With a Millionaire" there. Very few changes have been made since the instructor, Vinny, has been liking the story as is. This week I plan on writing a synopsis so that when I hear back from Harlequin about "Movie Star" I'll be ready to send them "Snowed".

I recently read "Xombies: Apocalypse Blues" by Walter Greatshell. It was a great book and I read it so fast because I found I didn't want to put it down! It was horror mixed with science fiction, and there was no romance, so it wasn't the sort of thing I normally read. I read it because my father suggested it. I'm glad I did!

Walter Greatshell has an article he wrote about writing called "Playboy Loved Me: Confessions of a Freelance Failure" on his website, waltergreatshell.com. Read the whole article here, this is an excerpt:

I am a writer, though my lifetime of writing has not earned me as much as a year working at Dairy Queen. I always knew I was going to be a writer, and that I would have to go through a period of "paying my dues." I just didn't think it would take so long. Perhaps my naivete was fortunate, because if I had it to do all over again I think I would go with my childhood ambition: to be an ichthyologist. Study little fishies.

All writers are doomed by their initial piddling success - as any driving instructor will tell you, it’s hard to unlearn bad habits. In my case I won a contest, the Independent Press-Telegram Scary Story Contest, and although they never actually printed my story (a grudge I still nourish at my breast) I did get fifty dollars out of it. A boy's first pay! It was not unreasonable to expect that it would lead to greater things, that I was a teenage prodigy on the ladder to literary stardom. In fact, that money was the biggest sum I would make from any single manuscript until I was forty.

........

Hitchhiking once, I met a motivational speaker--a man who choreographed ninjas, flaming batons and bikinied go-go dancers for the purpose of galvanizing jaded salesmen--who banished my writing problems with one word: "Volume." His cure-all solution to freelancing was to send the same article to fifty publications at a time. Be active, not reactive! It seemed sensible, and I assured him I would do it.

"We'll see," he told me. "A lot of people secretly want to fail. They just can't do what it takes."
"I will. I'll do it," I said.
"Maybe. I'll be watching for your byline. We'll see."
I didn’t do it.

I'm looking forward to reading Greatshell's other novels, especially "Xombies: Apocalypticon", the sequel to the other Xombies book. Today I'm going to get cracking on that 2 page synopsis for "Snowed in With a Millionaire" at the Panera in Fishkill, NY with my writing buddies. It's not easy taking 181 plus pages of novel and boiling it down to 2 pages. Wish me luck, and good luck to you too!

Yours Truly,
Shana Brodsky

Revise & Resubmit from EC!

Hello Fellow Writers!

I have exciting news. I heard back from Ellora's Cave regarding my erotic romance submission to their "Alluring Arts" series.

I truly wish I could just copy the whole letter right here for you, but at the bottom of the letter it said that I could not share the letter!

Basically, the letter said that while "The Art Thief's Punishment" wasn't right for the "Alluring Arts" series they were doing, if I revised and lengthened the book I could resubmit it as a standalone. The editor said some really encouraging things about my writing style and even offered some specific tips on how to improve upon the story.

Needless to say, I am thrilled!

So I've been working on world building and getting to know my characters better as well as pacing, and my goal is to have "The Art Thief's Punishment" ready to be resubmitted by the end of March.

Wish me luck, and good luck to you too!
Yours Truly,
Shana Brodsky

More Advice from Meg Cabot

Hello Fellow Writers!

My writing instructor, author Vinnie Dacquino, has finished reading my category romance "Snowed in With a Millionaire". He said he liked it even better than my previous romance "The Movie Star's Very Personal Assistant"! That gives me the confidence to submit it to Silhouette Desire once I hear back from then about "Movie Star".

My goal for the rest of the Advanced Writing Workshop is to write a query and a synopsis for "Snowed" and have it critiqued.

I am still working on my erotic romance "Taste of Candy". I'm finding myself doing anything I can to avoid working on it for some reason. True writer's block! But I do believe in the story I am trying to tell, so I will push through until I get the story flowing again!

I've read two more of Meg Cabot's "Princess Diaries" series. Those books are so much fun! Here is more advice for writers from Meg Cabot's website.

I have started lots of stories, but I can’t seem to finish them. What’s wrong with me?
It is always more fun to start a new story than it is to work on the one you’ve been working on for months. This is why publishers don’t pay writers their whole advance until they turn in the completed manuscript. Every writer feels this way. Just power through it, and remember that if you write a page a day—just ONE page—in three months you’ll have a hundred page story. And in six months you’ll have a two hundred page story. That’s almost a whole book. So don’t think about it like: "Oh my gosh, I have to write two hundred pages." Think of it like, "Today, I have to write a page." Trust me. It works.

I don’t know how to get started on a story. Please help.
The solution to this problem is very simple: Sit down. Start a story. Finish it. Put it aside. Start another story. There. Now you’re a writer.

I can’t think of anything to write about.
How about this: Who do you hate and why? Who do you love and why? What’s happened to you that you wish hadn’t happened? What hasn’t happened to you that you wish WOULD happen?

Write these things down. There’s your story.

Obviously you’ve got to create a plot and change your characters names so your friends and family won’t sue you. But that’s the fun part.

How many pages should my novel be?
Publishers go by words, not pages. Most adult books are about 90,000 words, and no longer than 100,000 words (unless you’re JK Rowling). Teen books are about 55,000 words.

How many words are there to a page? It depends on the font you are using, of course, but in general, 250-300 words per page. Therefore, a 55,000 word book should be about 200 manuscript pages. A 100,000 word book would be about 400. Editors like 12 point font.

I think it's interesting how Meg Cabot recommends writing at least a page a day. It's good advice! Right now I am sitting at Panera with several of my writing friends from NaNoWriMo. We are still meeting up on my free weekends to sit together and write.

Wish me luck, and good luck to you too!
Yours Truly,
Shana Brodsky

Meg Cabot's Advice

Hello Fellow Writers!

I'm still waiting to hear back on the two manuscripts that are currently being reviewed by publishers. In the meantime, I've been working on "Taste of Candy", an erotic romance. I am totally stuck on this one - something must be wrong! I need to go through and make an outline and see if I can unblock myself. So that's the plan for this week.

I've been reading Meg Cabot's bestselling "Princess Diary" series. They are wonderful books and each is such a quick read. I literally read one of the books in four hours without pause. I really enjoy Cabot's easy going style - I will definitely be reading more of her novels.

On her website, MegCabot.com, she offers her advice to aspiring writers:

What advice do you have to give to aspiring writers?

My advice to young writers is:
Write the kinds of stories you like to read. If you don’t love what you’re writing, no one else will, either.

Don’t tell people you want to be a writer. Everyone will try to talk you out of choosing a job with so little security, so it is better just to keep it to yourself, and prove them all wrong later.

You are not a hundred dollar bill. Not everyone is going to like you … or your story. Do not take rejection personally.

If you are blocked on a story, there is probably something wrong with it. Take a few days off and put the story on a back burner for a while. Eventually, it will come to you.

Read-and write-all the time. Never stop sending out your stuff. Don’t wait for a response after sending a story out…start a new story right away, and then send that one out! If you are constantly writing and sending stuff out (don’t forget to live your life, too, while you are doing this) eventually someone will bite!

It is nearly impossible to get published these days without an agent. The guide I used to get mine was called the Jeff Herman Guide to Agents, Editors, and Publishers. It was well worth the money I spent on it, since it lists every agent in the business and what he or she is looking for. It also tells you how to write a query letter, what to expect from your publisher, and all sorts of good stuff…a must buy for any aspiring author!

And above all, become a good listener. In order to write believable dialogue, you need to listen to the conversations of the people around you—then try to imitate them! So my advice is always to try to keeping quiet, listen only, and let other people to do the talking for a change. You’ll be surprised how much this will improve your writing skills (and how many people will think you’re a really sage person, when all you’re basically doing is spying on them).

Good luck, and keep writing! If I can do it, so can you!

Good advice from a number one bestselling YA author! I have a YA novel called "SL*T" that I was working on and then just kind of let go. It's much darker than most traditional YA fair. I do plan on getting back to it at some point. But for now, I've got my Advanced Writing Workshop instructor going through my Silhouette Desire targeted contemporary romance, "Snowed in with a Millionaire", and I've got my current WIP "Taste of Candy" to work on.

Wish me luck, and good luck to you too!

Yours Truly,
Shana Brodsky

Carly Phillips - How She Does It

Hello Fellow Writers!

I've started round two of the Advanced Writing Workshop offered at my local community college. Last time I brought "The Movie Star's Very Personal Assistant" to class for critique, and I felt that my manuscript really came to it's full potential. This time I'm bringing "Snowed in With a Millionaire" for critique.

I'm currently waiting to hear back from both Silhouette Desire on the partial they requested, as well as from Ellora's Cave for the submission to their "Alluring Arts" theme. "The Art Thief's Punishment" is being considered by their acquiring editors. As soon as I hear back I'll blog about it!

I've been working on another erotic romance targeted towards Ellora's Cave called "Taste of Candy", about a rock star and the woman named Candace (Candy for short!) who he falls in love with.

Next weekend is my monthly meeting for the Hudson Valley Romance Writers of America, but due to my work schedule I'll be unable to attend until June! But they have tons of great interviews with romance authors on their website at HudsonValleyRWA.com.

Here is an excerpt from an interview with New York Tines bestselling romance author Carly Phillips. For the whole interview, check it out here.

• Where do you get your ideas for a romance novel?

Everywhere. Magazines, television shows, daytime TV, real-life situations - For me anything can be given a fresh spin. It's been said there are only seven story ideas in the world and everything spins from that. Something to think about!

• How important is it for you to have a critique partner?

Invaluable. From a person who came into this business skeptical one was necessary, I now can't live without one. From my first critique partner (Kathy Attalla) to my current (Janelle Denison), I've been very lucky. It's important to have personalities that mesh, writing needs that click and also someone you trust not to mess with your voice or story, just to point out things that are important!

• If your book was made into a movie, which actors would you like to see play your characters?

Oh I don't know! Young and beautiful works for me, LOL! I've never really thought about it.

• What do you know now about writing/publishing that you wished you knew before The Call?

Everything! Actually I just think you should immerse yourself in the publishing business because it isn't an easy one to understand. And the world is changing. It's very different now than it was when I first sold. Writers need to understand how publishers are reacting to the economy and market and learn to adjust their thinking accordingly. RWA is a great asset because you can reach out to so many authors and loops and learn so much.

For more information about Carly Phillips you can visit her website at: www.carlyphillips.com.

This week I'll try and finish up "Taste of Candy" as well as revise "Snowed in With a Millionaire" as I get the chapter notes back from Vinnie Dacquino, the writing teacher and an author.
Wish me luck and good luck to you too!

Yours Truly,
Shana Brodsky

Pen Name

Hello Fellow Writers!

So I'm still waiting to hear back from both Ellora's Cave (my erotic romance "The Art Thief's Punishment" went past the initial editorial review and is being considered by the acquiring editors) and Silhouette Desire (they requested a partial based on my synopsis for "The Movie Star's Very Personal Assistant"), which is to be expected.

I've been working on another erotic romance called "Taste of Candy", which is targeted towards Ellora's Cave theme "Musical Madness". It's about a rock star and the woman named Candy who he falls in love with.

I decided that when I'm writing erotic romance, I will use the pen name "Shoshanna Evers". Not because I plan on being anonymous - I just don't think that my real name is particularly appropriate sounding for erotic romance. I also don't want future readers of my category type romances to accidentally pick up one of my erotica books and get surprised by the content! This way it will be easy for readers (ahem, future readers, that is) to know what sort of story of mine they are about to read.

I found an interesting article by Michael Pollick entitled "Should a Writer Adopt a Pen Name?". Here is an excerpt, click here for the whole article.

PRO: Pseudonyms can increase an author's overall marketability. If you write action/adventure novels, you may want to adopt a name that is more suited to the genre. "Rivers of Blood" by 'Tank McThunder' may appeal more to the readers than "Rivers of Blood" by Murray Fishbinder. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with the Fishbinder name, but in a promotional sense you need to hook your readers from the beginning. Other pseudonyms may take on even more significance, such as "Trevanian" or "Phaedrus". As a marketing tool, a good pseudonym can boost sales and create enough positive buzz to give your 'name' some strong selling power.

CON: A poorly chosen pseudonym can hurt your chances of acceptance. As a beginning writer, you have very little leverage with publishers as it is, so you may not want to muddy the waters further by using a pretentious or gimmicky pen name. Insisting on a blatantly obvious pseudonym may make you a one or two hit wonder, but won't give you staying power. If your own name is reasonably marketable and your work is meant to be taken seriously, you should not resort to a meaningless pen name. Later in your career you may feel the need to use a pen name for works outside your established genre, but you need a name and reputation first.

PRO: Pseudonyms can make artistic statements for the author. Sometimes a writer takes on a subject that is highly controversial or threatens to expose secrets. Rather than remain anonymous or risk personal injury as the named author, you may want to use a pen name for protection. The pen name you choose may reflect some element of the controversy, or establish your credibility as an expert on the subject. "Secrets of the Emergency Room" by 'Dr. Dread' may sound like a gimmick, but it does establish that the author is a doctor and that his or her information may jeopardize careers. In a different vein, you may choose a pseudonym based on a character you enjoy from literature or history. A well-chosen pseudonym can add an air of mystery or intrigue.

CON: Pseudonyms can create 'identities' from which there is no escape. In the same way that an actor may be linked forever with a popular character, an author may be linked forever with the character created by a pseudonym. Some authors may create elaborate backstories to give dimension to their alter ego pseudonyms. In essence, the pseudonym's fantasy personality may overwhelm the actual writer's persona. Many authors who use pseudonyms discover that they must keep using that pseudonym long past its usefulness. Efforts to publish works under their real names may be met with rejection or reluctance. If you are comfortable with the idea of perpetuating a character that writes your books, then a pseudonym can work. If you are concerned that a gimmicky pen name will take away your future credibility, then don't use one.

This week my focus will be on finishing the first draft of "Taste of Candy". I expect it to be between 10K and 15k words.

Wish me luck, and good luck to you too!

Yours Truly,

Shana Brodsky

Response from Ellora's Cave!

Hello Fellow Writers!

Today I mailed off the partial that Shana Smith at Silhouette Desire requested. I used the priority mail envelopes both to mail the partial and also for the SASE. I wonder how long before I hear if Silhouette is interested in seeing a full manuscript? Fingers crossed!

I also heard back from Ellora's Cave! The email said "Thank you for submitting to Ellora's Cave Publishing! Your manuscript has been read by our initial editorial reviewer and has been placed in queue for our acquiring editors to consider further."

I'm very excited about this!

Now I need to get started on another book. "Snowed in With a Millionaire" is finished but I need to wait until I hear back from Harlequin/Silhoutte about "The Movie Star's Very Personal Assistant" before I can submit again. I'm also planning on taking another writing class where I'll bring "Snowed" to be critiqued.

I'm tossing around an idea for another contemporary category romance targeted toward Silhouette Desire called "Seduced by Her Captor"... but I'm still in the planning stages.

Also, I wanted to share this link to a website I found, BrendaHiatt.com, with a page called "Show Me the Money!" - it lists everything the author knows about romance novel advances and royalties for various publishers. Interesting stuff!

Wish me luck and good luck to you too!
Yours Truly,
Shana Brodsky