Archives

Home > Archives

Conversations with Barb & Jann

March 2, 2012 by in category Archives tagged as , , ,


Barb:  Hey, Jann, how’s the story coming? Got it nailed down yet?
Jann:  Well, I can tell you that my brain has been storming, that’s for sure. I have this seed of a story I’ve been wrestling with for months (soon to be a year). My plot and characters are all over the place. For years I have read and listened to some talented writers explain their writing techniques. I’ve tried out several, to the point that I’m totally confused on how to get this story on the page. I was pulling my hair out by the roots, so I sat down and asked myself this question, “which one do I feel most comfortable with?” Answer – The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. I guess it goes back to the beginning when I joined OCC and the first writing technique I was exposed to was a workshop given by Jill Marie Landis on the hero’s journey. I found the handout Jill gave us breaking down the 12 steps (but can’t locate the one she had completed with one of her books – darn it) and pulled The Writer’s Journey off the shelf and started to reacquaint myself with a tried and true concept. I have to say it’s working.  It’s slow, but working!
Barb:  That’s super, Jann! The Hero’s Journey is a great tool for a lot of writers, but I have trouble using it for some reason. I usually start out with a germ of an idea for a story, a hook of some sort, and think about it for days before I write anything down. When I’m really excited about it and can’t wait any longer, I get out a legal pad and start writing a story blurb or even a short outline. At that point I consult GMC and the three-act structure with its turning points (or plot points), midpoint, etc., to get the characters and story filled out. The three-act structure process seems to work best for me. I guess it’s my love of the movies. I can break down my favorite movies into their three acts, and frequently refer to them for inspiration when I’m stuck.  I believe the best handout I have on the subject is Lou Nelson’s Basic Paradigm Plot Definitions.  She provided it to everyone who attended her “pajama party” at OCC’s birthday bash last October. She included a blank three-act paradigm for everyone to fill out.
Jann:  Barb, I think what we can take away from this is that not one process works for every writer. I say, whatever works for you, go for it.
1 0 Read more

Contest Deadlines

February 20, 2012 by in category Archives tagged as

Updated and all sites tested…Compiled by Donna Caubarreaux and Pepper Phillips….May be forwarded with credits.

MARCH CONTEST DEADLINES

Fabulous Five
WisRWA
Received by 11:59pm, March 1, 2012
First 2500 words.
http://www.wisrwa.org/contest.html#f5

Great Beginnings Contest
Utah Chapter RWA
Deadline: March 1, 2012
First five pages.
http://www.utahrwa.com/gbcontest.html

Inspirational Readers Choice Award (P)
Faith, Hope & Love RWA Chapter
Deadline: Midnight, March 1, 2012
Copyright of 2011
http://faithhopelove-rwa.org/irc.html

More Than Magic Contest
Entry Deadline March 2, 2012 – Book received by March 7th.
Copyright of 2011
http://rwimagiccontests.wordpress.com/

The Carol
American Christian Fiction Writers
Postmark Deadline: March 10, 2012
Copyright of 2011
http://www.acfw.com/carol

CNW Contest
Postmarked by March 15, 2012
Max length of 5k words.
http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Guidelines/contest_guidelines.htm

Dauphne du Maurier for Excellence – Published Division
RWA Mystery & Suspense Chapter
Received by Midnight – March 15, 2012
Copyright of 2011
http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/d_published.php

Dauphne du Maurier for Excellence – Unpublished Division
RWA Mystery & Suspense Chapter
Received by Midnight – March 15, 2012
Enter first 5k words, plus synopsis of no more than 625 words.
http://www.rwamysterysuspense.org/d_unpublished.php

Spring into Romance
RWA San Diego
Postmarked by March 16, 2012
First twenty-five pages.
http://www.rwasd.com/contest/index.html

Prism 2011 Contest for Published Authors
FF&P Chapter of RWA
Received by March 20, 2012
Copyright of 2011
http://www.romance-ffp.com/prism2012/

Touch of Magic
Central Florida Romance Writers
Received by March 20, 2012
First twenty-five pages plus up to three page synopsis.
http://www.cfrwa.com/tom-contest/2012-tom-official-rules-guidelines/

APRIL CONTEST DEADLINES

The Magic Moment Contest
Heart and Scroll RWA
Postmarked by April 1, 2012
Ten pages where the H/H first meet.
http://www.heartandscroll.com/contest_MagicMoment_rules.htm

First Page Contest
ESPAN
Begins on April 2, 2012
Enter first paragraph on 4/2 – check details on website.
http://espan-rwa.com/contest/

The Shelia Contest
Valley Forge Romance Writers
Deadline: April 7, 2012 – 11:59PM
Beginning of manuscript + synopsis (5 page max) total entry not to exceed 35 pages.
http://www.vfrw.com/contest/rules-and-regulations-2/

Orange Rose
Orange County RWA
Deadline: April 14, 2012
Beginning and synopsis not to exceed fifty pages.
http://www.occrwa.org/contest.html

Duel on the Delta
River City Romance Writers
Received by Midnight CST – April 15, 2012
First twenty pages plus one page optional synopsis.
http://www.rivercityromancewriters.org/duel.html

Check out Contests and Contest Winners on: http://contestdivas.blogspot.com/
Check out the Award Winning Romance Books on: http://awardwinningromances.blogspot.com/
…
Contest Alert-All the news on upcoming contests, plus Finalist & Winner listings, questions, etc. Sign up now! ContestAlert-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
…
Announcement only list: ContestDeadlines-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
…
For Published Authors ContestAlertPublished-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
…
If you’re a Contest Judge, join ContestsJudges-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
…
Donna Caubarreaux is a member of Coeur de Louisiane, Scriptscene Chapter, NOLA Stars, Heart of Louisiana, ESPAN and EPIC. She received a RWA Service Award in 1997.

Pepper Phillips is the author of “The Devil Has Dimples”.
 

0 0 Read more

Cooler Than the Other Side of the Pillow

February 7, 2012 by in category Archives tagged as , , ,

How’s this for a hero:
He strides into the story, ripped and ready, but with an understated calm reminiscent of Humphrey Bogart, Mr. Darcy, or Aragorn. He makes things happen with a mere flick of his eyes and remains in control of all he surveys. But this hero is a flesh and soul man – capable of making mistakes, but even more adept at shaking them off and getting on with it. He’s got a backstory of royalty, yet he’s worked like a coal miner to get everything he has. As the story surges towards its climax, he gets sweatier and dirtier, but the eyes remain steady. The battle he’s fighting makes your heart stutter and your breath catch – he makes you gasp and scream – both in ecstasy and in terror. You’ve thought about leaving him – maybe you should have! – but you never could. The promise of the next time was always too deliciously inviting. And there is always a next time – he never lets you down. When he finally vanquishes the demons and sweeps you away on a gush of euphoria, you love him with all your heart: the challenges, the heartbreak, the agony of the past make every moment in the afterglow unbearably sweet. You want it all again and again, and so rich is his potential that you’ll be plumbing the depths of his character for sequels to come.
“That’s Eli, man, cooler than the other side of the pillow.”
So said New York Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham about his quarterback Eli Manning just moments after their Superbowl victory Sunday night.
Mmmruh…
And for those of you who don’t like football, I get it. I spent 30 years of my life resenting televised sports. In my family, guys watched sports as they shooed girls out of the room. Lucky for me, I grew up and married a guy who loves football so much that he loves explaining it to me, teaching me, sharing it with me. Football is smart, complicated and chock full of amazing history. To get a sense of this, just check out Don Cheadle’s NFL Playoffs commercials on YouTube. (My favorite is the one titled “Joe.”)
And if you missed the Superbowl, NFL Network is replaying the game Wednesday at 8. And the replay is better than the televised broadcast. NFL films gives amazing shots and angles of the action, sound bytes from players and coaches who were miked up throughout the game, and best of all, they cut out all the downtime between plays so all you get is sixty minutes of rocking action that will leave you breathless. 
Check it out. You just might find yourself inspired.

 
-Geralyn Ruane
Ten year New York Giants fan and lifelong fan of men in general
5 0 Read more

Contest Deadlines

January 20, 2012 by in category Archives tagged as ,

Updated and all sites tested.  List compiled by Donna Caubarreaux and Pepper Phillips.  List may be
forwarded with credits.
..
EA = Electronic Format Available
EA/Non US = Electronic for Foreign Entries
EO = Electronic Only
MO = Members Only
U = Unpublished
P = Published
P/3 = Not published in three years
Pnr = Published, but not by RWA standards
PC = Not published in category selected
..



FEBRUARY CONTEST DEADLINES

Fire and Ice Contest (EO)
Chicago North RWA
Received by February 1, 2012
First 25 pages.
http://www.chicagonorthrwa.org/contest.php

Laurie Contest
Smokey Mountain Romance Writers
Deadline: February 1, 2012
First chapter not to exceed 25 pages.
http://www.smrw.org/contest.htm

The Sandy (EO)
Crested Butte Writers
Received by Midnight February 12, 2012
First 20 pages and up to a 2 page synopsis for a total page count of 22 pages.
http://thesandy.org/sandy.php

Between the Sheets
Greater Detroit RWA
Deadline: February 14, 2012
Ten-page love scene (sweet to erotic) and a one-page unjudged set-up.
http://www.gdrwa.org/contests.html#bts

Cleveland Rocks Romance
Northeast Ohio RWA
Deadline to enter: February 14, 2012
First 7K words, one page synopsis optional.
http://www.neorwa.com/index.php/Contest/Contest

Merritt Contest
San Antonio Romance Authors
Received by Midnight CST, February 14, 2012
First twenty-five pages plus synopsis, five page max.
http://www.sararwa.net/contest.html

Readers’ Crown for Published Authors
RomCon
Submitted by February 14, 2012
Copyright date of 2011
http://www.romconinc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38&Itemid=29

PNWA Literary Contest
Deadline Febryary 17, 2012
Send one page synopsis + beginning with 28 page max.
http://www.pnwa.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=6

MARCH CONTEST DEADLINES

Fabulous Five
WisRWA
Received by 11:59pm, March 1, 2012
First 2500 words.
http://www.wisrwa.org/contest.html#f5

Great Beginnings Contest
Utah Chapter RWA
Deadline: March 1, 2012
First five pages.
http://www.utahrwa.com/gbcontest.html

Inspirational Readers Choice Award (P)
Faith, Hope & Love RWA Chapter
Deadline: Midnight, March 1, 2012
Copyright of 2011
http://faithhopelove-rwa.org/irc.html

More Than Magic Contest
Entry Deadline March 2, 2012 – Book received by March 7th.
Copyright of 2011
http://rwimagiccontests.wordpress.com/

CNW Contest
Postmarked by March 15, 2011
Max length of 5k words.
http://www.writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Guidelines/contest_guidelines.htm


Handy Links 

·         Check out Contests and Contest Winners on: http://contestdivas.blogspot.com/
·         Check out the Award Winning Romance Books on: http://awardwinningromances.blogspot.com/
·         Contest Alert-All the news on upcoming contests, plus Finalist & Winner listings, questions, etc. Sign up now! ContestAlert-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
·         Announcement only list: ContestDeadlines-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
·         For Published Authors ContestAlertPublished-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
·         If you’re a Contest Judge, join ContestsJudges-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Donna Caubarreaux is a member of Coeur de Louisiane, Scriptscene Chapter, NOLA Stars, Heart of Louisiana, ESPAN and EPIC. She received a RWA Service Award in 1997.

Pepper Phillips is the author of “The Devil Has Dimples”.
0 0 Read more

What’s Wrong with this Cover?

January 12, 2012 by in category Archives tagged as , ,

The creation of a book cover is a collaboration of the author (most of whom claim their suggestions are ignored), the editor, art department and marketing. Sometimes things go wrong.
One of the most infamous cover calamities happened to Christina Dodd, author of Castle in the Air, an historical romance. The hero on the cover is standing behind the heroine in a lovely red gown, holding her with, um, all THREE of his arms. Amazing fellow!
Jill Marie Landis, who writes western historicals circa 1880, got an early peek at one of her covers. It featured a cabin in the woods with a TV antenna. Oophs! The publisher had to reprint ALL of the covers. Boy, was that an expensive mistake.
I think my cover for Big Sky Family is both appealing and charming; the colors are positively lovely. It’s hard to beat a cowboy hero (Arnie), the heroine’s young daughter (Torie) and a golden retriever (Sheila) for getting reader attention. But there’s just one small problem.
                   
Arnie, our hero, is sitting on the porch steps. He’s a paraplegic. In every scene in the book he is sitting in a wheelchair (with the small exception of rounding up cattle on a specially equipped ATV).
I’m guessing, and I really don’t know, that marketing has ‘discovered’ that heroes portrayed in wheelchairs don’t sell. Okay, I really want to sell lots of copies of Big Sky Family.
But what will readers think when they get to page 10 and find Arnie in his wheelchair? Will they blame me for the misleading cover and write nasty notes? Ouch!
And what about readers who read Big Sky Reunion, a previous book which featured Arnie’s brother Daniel? Won’t they remember that Arnie was a paraplegic in that book? When they see the cover will they think he’s been cured? And write nasty notes? Oh dear . . .
So do you think marketing is right? Would you be more or less likely to buy a book with the hero on the cover in a wheelchair?
Let me know.
Happy reading…….
Char…..
Big Sky Family, Love Inspired, available 10/19/2011
Written With Love, working title, Love Inspired, 10/2012
Books that leave you smiling by
www.CharlotteCarter.com
0 0 Read more
«‹2345678›»

Copyright ©2017 A Slice of Orange. All Rights Reserved. ~PROUDLY POWERED BY WORDPRESS ~ CREATED BY ISHYOBOY.COM

>