Romance Writing Critique Group
My critique partners here at PC are probably sick to death of my book trailer by now, mainly because I've been posting it EVERYWHERE. Here is no exception! Take a look at my new book trailer for Doubting Thomas! It's available now from www.eternalpress.biz.
You can watch it here:
Doubting Thomas Book Trailer by Stephanie Taylor
Do you love to read a hard core, pig-headed alpha who knows exactly what he wants and goes after it? Or do you prefer a quiet, considerate beta who still goes after he wants but is sensible about it?
When I think about these two types of men, I can’t help but think about Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Popular and controversial as it is, she did an excellent job defining the two extremes. And for once a beta ends up with the girl.
Far too often, I read alphas. I even write alphas. But Edward Cullen? He’s a beta all the way. Jacob Black? A total alpha who winds up without the girl.
Let’s look at the differences between the two characters:
Edward (beta): Vampire, cold skin, pale, rich, temperate, considerate of Bella. All aspects of his life are quietly lived.
Jacob (alpha): Werewolf, hot skin, russet skin (oh my, did no one edit the books for that word?!?!), poor, hot temper, thought of himself first. Puffed up about his abilities and his lifestyle.
I’ll be the first to admit, I loved Jacob. I wanted Jacob to win Bella over, because at several points in the series, I thought Edward was being a total passive idiot. Did he not want to be happy? Did he not recognize his own ability to protect her and make HER happy? BETAS! So self-sacrificing, but we love them anyway.
So, I guess when all is said and done, I love my alphas. It was nice to read the Twilight series and see how black and white Stephenie made the differences, not just in personality types, but lifestyles. It was nice to see the beta win, but I couldn’t help feeling like I need to read Jacob’s story now. But, of course, like any good author, I think that was probably Stephenie’s plan.
So, what kind of “man” are you? Alpha? Beta? Both?
Why is it that some manuscripts hop along at a fast pace, stopping to smell the daisies at times, and other manuscripts fall into the pond and sink to the bottom?
Is it a better understanding of the characters, the plot, all of the above? Could it be the voice and/or genre?
My current ms is a YA mystery. It’s my first YA, so it could go to reason that it would be difficult. But my heroine, a snarky teenager, is a breeze. Her words come almost effortlessly and her GMC is pretty easy. Her voice doesn’t seem far away from the snarky heroine I wrote in my last adult mystery, yet this one is practically writing itself. (Perhaps it has something to do with my own level of sarcasm and still present teenage angst. 
)
I also started writing (or tried to) my next project, which is an adult mystery. I’m purposely attempting for this heroine to not speak with snark, for the most part, and it’s definitely not writing itself. In fact, I’m currently working on my third opening. It’s not fun, cute or funny, like I hoped. Am I just not connecting with my heroine? Maybe I don’t fully understand her, or maybe she’s not fun to me.
So what about you? Do you have books that naturally flow (give or take amodicum of hair pulling)?
Learning the craft, I’ve spent so many hours focused on fine-tuning the areas I’m weak in, such as description and emotions. Hours upon hours I’d write then edit and go over every word, every minute detail. I’d layer in physical descriptions, the five senses, emotions, worrying over every choice.
My conversations with other writers were heavily about what I had difficulty with. It was after all mostly what I thought about. But isn’t that the way of life for some people? We concentrate on what needs improvement and take for granted the rest. I knew I was good at dialogue, so I didn’t need to think about it. Did I?
The ironic thing is I’m usually a pretty positive person. In my every day life, I refuse to focus on the negative. I believe what you put out into the universe in terms of actions and thoughts, comes back to you. And I certainly don’t need to bring any negativity upon myself. So then why am I this way with my writing? While trying to learn and improve, I forgot to be grateful. I forgot to smell those virtual roses. I forgot to remember the good…the great.
I write awesome dialogue. My voice is incredible. My characters have unique sounds/voices. And I have a talent for plotting that makes my pacing flow smoothly and my plots believable. These are not insignificant and surely shouldn’t be overlooked. It is these attributes that will help pull me out of a mental funk after a crushing critique or a rejection. I won’t forget to smell those roses now.
So tell me…
What are you good at?
My first post on the Passionate Critters’ (hereafter referred to as PC 
)blog, and I’m a bit nervous. See my hands trembling? My name is Jennifer Bianco, please call me Jenn, and I’m an aspiring writer of light, humorous mysteries with romantic and sometimes paranormal elements. I’m currently working on a YA mystery–hopefully the first of a series.
Yesterday, my daughter and I watched The Seventh Sign, with Demi Moore and Michael Biehn. I first saw it when it first came out in 1988. I fell in love with this movie–it’s twists and turns, the information, the ending. I purchased the VHS and must’ve watched it at least 10 times. It spoke to me on so many levels, and when I happened to turn to a channel showing it, just as it began, I couldn’t believe it. I became very excited and told my daughter how awesome it is.
Then a good 45 minutes in, I thought about how slow it seemed. Where were the good parts? Why was everyone just talking? I knew how it ended, and recalled some of the parts where I once oohed and ahhed, but they seemed sooo far away. It was during the middle of this movie that I realized how times have changed.
We hear all the time how we don’t have the attention spans we once did due to the media. Commercials deliver a full commercial in 30 second…S.E.C.O.N.D.S! Can you believe that? I watch commercials all the time (HUGE television fan here), but I never counted how long they were–never cared. The shows my kids watch zip, zing and zap. We’ve grown accustomed to fast, fast, fast.
Lately I’ve been hearing a lot of groans from other writers who enter contests and receive comments about how their book opening is too slow. Does every beginning nowadays need explosions in the first 250 words? Are stories only good if they’re chock full of trapeze acts? What about the slower, more quiet stories that still grip your heart and thrill your soul? Is the destination good only if the journey is strung out on caffeine?
Don’t get me wrong, I love an exciting explosion or edge-of-your-seat tension throughout, but if we continue at this pace, where will we be in another 20 years?
How could us romance writers not talk about love during this particular month? I mean, this is OUR month to shine, right? Valentine’s Day is only 10 days away and the stores are filled with chocolate, flowers, balloons and stuffed animals.
So what should you do for your spouse/loved one? I’m going to pretend most of you are women who are reading this, but regardless of that, these suggestions are pretty much genderless.
Create a scavenger hunt. I did this for my hubby during our second year of marriage. It was a TON of fun. I created poetic riddles and sent him on a wild goose chase all over town…He first got a hint via cell phone to check in the bedroom when he got home and that’s where he found his first riddle. I left a small gift there-Valentine’s Day boxers. The second riddle sent him to his car and I left another small gift. From there he went to several different locations and received a new riddle and gift. At that point in our marriage we had a limited budget and the extravagant hotel room I wanted to get was out of the question, so instead he circled back to our house, where I had decorated our bedroom and myself with his last gift.
Write a poem. I’m all about personalized gifts. How impersonal is a box of chocolates…well, unless you’re like me and REALLY like chocolate. I don’t even care for jewelry all that much, although my husband has gotten me a couple of really good things. Don’t worry, if you’re not the writing type, get a rhyming dictionary. It’s an amazing tool that any author should have in his/her library anyway. ANYONE can be a poet with one those books!
Write a short story about you and your loved one, featuring your husband as the hero. What man doesn’t want to think he’s the knight in shining armor?
Take a weekend retreat. Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, so I’m sure hotels and bed and breakfast’s are filling up with reservations already. While you’re away schedule a dual massage at a local spa. And make sure to take a hot bubble bath with some sparkling cider and lots of candles!
Go out to a NICE dinner. I’m not talking Subway or Pizza Hut here, nor am I talking about a trip to Chuck E. Cheese with the kids. So often our lives are filled with chaos due to children, work, or our own lack of prioritizing. I don’t remember the last time I had a nice dinner with my husband ALONE. Any time I could do that would be a happy day indeed. Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that fulfill us the most.
Rent a bunch of sappy movies together and end the night with a conversation about what about the other person made you fall in love. Personally, Castaway makes my husband all mushy-gushy. And it doesn’t hurt that I see it on TV at least once every few months. It never fails at the end, he rolls over next to me in bed when it’s over and says, “Why did you make me watch that?” I just grin. Other movies are: The Notebook, P.S. I love you, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Terminator…yeah, maybe that doesn’t quite fit, but there’s an amazing love story in it, Casablanca, The Princess Bride (one of my favorites), Ghost, and a really cute comedy – What Happens in Vegas.
Hope everyone has a great Valentine’s Day!
Since many of my crit partners are discussing goals and 2009, I thought this a good time to jump in and add mine!
While I worked on my goals prior to Jan 1st, I just wasn’t ready to start them on that day.
Mondays, for me are good starting days. I get a full week in of starting a new routine or two.
I thought I’d post my goals here, so I can look back on them at the end of the year.
CAREER ROAD MAP
–Daily –
–Weekly –
I have a notebook that I like to keep a daily journal of what I’ve accomplished. What will you do to keep yourself accountable and stay on track to reach your goals?
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