At War with My Mouth

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Have you ever flippantly mentioned that you’re a writer and then seriously regretted it? I guess it goes without saying that I have. At my day job a while back, someone I rarely see wondered why I have a thesaurus on my desk. Feeling bold, I replied honestly, never thinking much about my confession even through a few follow-on questions. Apparently I was in a manic mood phase, for I don’t recall the exchange at all, neither his queries nor my answers.

Fast forward to this morning, the guy walks in. His greeting was not what I expected. “How’s your writing coming?”

Brilliantly, I said, “What?” When he repeated the question, I managed a semi-coherent reply about much-needed rewrites going well over the holiday weekend. He didn’t stop there, of course, and I could feel my cheeks heat the instant he asked what kind of stories I write.

This man, who looks like he could be my grandfather, appeared to have no idea what erotica is. When I explained that it’s romance with steamy bits, he asked if I had any stories with me. I flat out lied and said no, even though every single tale I’ve penned for the last several years is on the thumb drive in my laptop bag, not to mention the laptop!

He didn’t seem to notice my discomfiture, even when I told him in so many words that it is embarrassing to hand over my tales face to face. The one and only time I handed a casual acquaintance some pages to read, I nearly had a stroke. And he’s not someone I’m likely to see ever again.

This fellow, on the other hand, will be stopping by my office at least three or four times a month. And he asked me to bring something in for him to read if I remember. How can I convincingly lie every time and tell him all my stories are at home? Do I want to? Not really. Getting up the nerve after he walked away, I wrote my blog website down and stuck the note with his paperwork.

“There”, I thought. “I’m not responsible for anything he reads or doesn’t read.”

The evasiveness felt very honorable in an odd way, even vaguely Japanese in its sensibility. Then I inevitably thought about the matter some more. Why not print out a piece of short fiction without any sex in it? Believe it or not, I do have a few. ~grin~ Well, the end result is that I currently have a two page story tucked away with a note listing my blog stapled to it.

I ultimately just couldn’t go through with handing over anything, not even by sticking the sheets in his paperwork slot and sneaking out to avoid seeing him. What if he’s homophobic? Quite a bit of my material addresses gay relationships. Even the ficlet I printed out focuses on two men in love, whether or not it stands out in this particular vignette.

Odds are that I’ll see this man in another week or so. The last thing I need at work is the added stress of a business contact reading sensual stories and thinking of me. Any suggestions? Should I hand over a copy of “War and Peace”?

The Perfect Independence Day

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Today is July 4th, Independence Day here in the US. This is a holiday that carries strong images and memories with it, one that can carry a lot of expectations about how the day should be celebrated. For one friend it’s watermelon and barbecued hot dogs. For another it’s Will Smith movies. For me it’s usually a freaked out cat and whatever fireworks I can see from my patio. Whatever the details, everyone seems to have some specific idea of how to the holiday is supposed to be spent.

It occurred to me today that it’s easy to have some of the same expectations and preconceived ideas about writing and writers.  Maybe we think of writers as very easily inspired to write and cast ourselves in an unfavorable light when we struggle to find the next idea. Maybe we think writers are successful because they have hours and hours of uninterrupted time with their muse, and wonder how we will ever make that kind of time in our busy lives. It’s even possible that we think good writers receive nothing but praise from their editors and never ever get rejection letters.

The truth is, just as there are all kinds of ways to celebrate Independence Day, there are all kinds of writers and all kinds of writing processes. There is no one formula that works. Writers write in the morning, they write at night. They write in spiral notebooks, on zippy little netbooks, or a Starbucks napkin. They might have one beta, they might have seven or eight critique partners targeted at different stages of the finished work. Some writers jump around in their manuscript, some write a straight chronological line from start to finish. Some outline down to the chapter and paragraph, some write entirely by the seat of their pants.

The one common thread is that writers write. How much they write, how often, and by what means are just details. Certainly there are some great habits to be learned from successful writers, but they should be guidelines, not an absolute yardstick we measure our own process against. The important thing is to be open to what works for you. Even if you have a regular writing routine, remember that our lives are in constant flux and every story is different. What works today may not work for you tomorrow. Be flexible, both with the story and with your process, follow your instincts, and write!

What about you? Do you have a special way of celebrating Independence Day? Do you have a regular routine when you’re writing?

Wiley Wednesday: Pantsing vs. Plotting

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To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? ~Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1

To paraphrase Hamlet, to plot or to pants, that is the question. I bet Hamlet quotes are the last thing you ever though you would hear in a discussion of plotting vs. pantsing. First, let’s define these two terms, then we will take a closer look at each.

First up: pantsing. This is the abbreviated form of ‘flying by the seat of your pants’ or in this case writing by the same. To follow our Hamlet theme – the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Basically, it involves getting an idea, sitting down to write and seeing where it takes you and what pops up in the story as you go along.

There are as many forms of pantsing as there are pantsers. Some start with no planning whatsoever. They see the idea and dive right in on the blank page, letting the story take them where it will. Some, like me, get an idea, write down the high points like a sightseeing map, then let the characters and story dictate the rest as it comes. There are, of course, vary degrees of pantsing all along the spectrum.


The point is that a minimum of pre-planning and plotting are done ahead of time. These writers tend to view writing more organically and are willing to test the waters to see what floats and what doesn’t. Devotees of pantsing cite the flexibility, lack of restraint, the freedom to go wherever the story takes them. These are the writers who love a good surprise, an unexpected plot twist, when writing. I’ll admit it’s a rush when something awesome suddenly pops out of nowhere that adds just the perfect touch to the story, when something I never saw coming happens and it is just what the story needed. That’s when we feel like the characters are real, living and breathing beings who want their story to be told. After all, they should know better than anyone what happens in their lives, right?

This method is not without its problems, however. Sometimes, characters can have a conflicting view of events. Sometimes those great surprises can derail your plot and lead you down a blind alley, forcing re-writes. Last but not least, without a clear mental vision, it can lead to looser plot and pacing issues. Again, this can be tightened up in editing. But then again, it can also lead to a brilliant idea that takes the ordinary into the realms of extraordinary, a spark fed from the story itself that no amount of planning could ever foresee.

Now the plot thickens. Or rather, the plotting does. Here’s where writers take arms against a sea of troubles…also known as disorganization. Plotters are some of the most organized people I know. At any given moment, they know how the story will go, who is in it, what they are doing in every scene and how it all will end. They know everything there is to know about their characters and setting. Moving from point A to point B comes in well-ordered fashion. These writers also have a much easier time writing scenes out of sequence. If one scene is hanging them up, they can skip to another easily, without fear of going off in a wrong direction and having to scrap the scene later.

The tools of the plotter are impressive. Outlines are a staple, and can range from general to extremely detailed, running several pages. Storyboards are often used, which give a great visual layout of scenes and chapters. It’s a great way to keep track of who is where at any given time. Timelines make sure you don’t have time and date conflicts and that everything does not happen in a single day. The synopsis is another great tool. This is a summary of the story, start to finish, that outlines the major characters, plot points, and outcome. Some do the synopsis beforehand as a sort of road map, some after. Altogether, though, these tools serve to keep the writing process smooth and hopefully trouble free, to avoid blind alleys and deleting useless scenes.

The downside? Sometimes it can lead to too much organization – more time spent organizing than writing. The more flexible thinkers feel all this outlining can stifle the joy and creativity of writing the story, that by the time they are done with all this organizing, they are already tired of the story and don’t have the urge to do what feels like ‘rewriting’. As in all things, your mileage may vary.

Each method has its devotees and both styles work. Those who excel at plotting can whip out a great draft with speed and what appears to be minimal effort. Pantsers often come across as more creative, more inspired. I don’t agree. I think it’s all in the perception and when the inspiration and creative phases are done. Plotters are every bit as inspired but I think the creative burst comes more at the beginning, when they are outlining the whole plot. After all, you have to be hugely inspired to know what will happen start to finish, it just may not be as apparent as it is with pantsers.

It’s all a matter of where in the process it happens. We all have to dream up characters and ideas, form plots and conflict, pace the action and emotion in order to have an interesting readable, gripping story. And whatever method gets you there, inspires you to get the words on the page day after day, is the one that works.

To pants or to plot…yes that is the question. Enjoy the journey!

Striking The Right Chord

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When the wonderful folks at the Writer’s Retreat asked if I would like to do a guest blog here, I jumped at the chance. I’ve been a reader for a little while now and no matter which of them posts, or on what subject, I always come away with something that makes me think or stirs my imagination. I hope to continue this.

I am P.M.Rousseau, and I write in a variety of genres. Paranormal is my favorite, followed closely by science fiction, horror, and historical. That said, I am in the homestretch of completing the first draft of a contemporary novel that includes none of the above. Such is life, and those of us who are storytellers will understand when I say that we write the story that is in us waiting to get out. Some stories are pushier than others, and those necessarily get the most attention at any given point.

This one was very insistent and has taken up much of my time this year. It’s been very opinionated on what should happen within it, and what the characters are like. As for opinionated, the characters have been even more so. They know exactly who they are, what they want, and what they intend to do. My only hope is to type fast enough to keep up with them.

One area where their preferences have been the most pronounced is music. Each of them has distinct musical tastes and can get persnickety when I try to change their soundtrack. When I give in and cooperate, however, they will sing the story to me very willingly. Let me give you an idea. Here’s the list of current characters and what they like:

Jake: Stevie Nicks
Gabe: Southern rock all the way
Jackson: Trisha Yearwood
Lila: Sting
Austin: Clint Black, Garth Brooks
Lincoln: George Strait

See what I mean? Talk about a varied bunch! What’s even stranger is that the couple in this story apparently really likes 80’s funk such as Zapp & Roger, Shalamar, and Rick’s James’ slow stuff for sex scenes. So yes, my play list is a kaleidoscopic study in contrasts. Whatever it is, it gets the job done.

This got me thinking, however. I am as much a creature of musical moods as my characters. I bet you are too. How often do we put on something lively when cleaning, something relaxing when cooking, something more inspiring when a tough jobs needs doing? More often than not, I’m betting. A good beat can make any task go faster and seem like less work. When that endeavor is something creative, it seems to work even better. It stirs the imagination, moves it beyond the ordinary, allowing us to see more than we might otherwise see. It stretches, energizes and expands us. It takes us places we might not otherwise go.

I firmly believe that stretching one creative muscle helps strengthen the rest. My characters know this. Back in my professional dancing days, I knew this too. I’m glad to get back to it, to see the words and the ideas flow. Happy listening!

Inspiration

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I have been thinking about inspiration the last few days. What inspires us and why? Personally I am very susceptible to song lyrics (and even inflict plot-bunny-ish songs on my friends) although picture prompts, watching a family in a park – most any audio or visual will do.

Most recently, though, I find that I do not have a single source of inspiration for a story idea. It’s as though all the music I’ve heard, all the books I’ve read, all the movies I’ve been to and places I’ve seen just stew together until I need something. Then, like Dumbledore’s pensieve I dip my wand in and pull something out when I need it.

Ultimately the source of the inspiration is not as important as the fact that it strikes at all. But as I think about the Artist’s Way and opening the creative mind, it seems that understanding what inspires us can help us put ourselves in the path of things that spark the creative spirit in us.

So, what inspires you?

What’s in a pen name?

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Great title, isn’t it? I bet you’ve never seen anyone use a (modified) Shakespeare quote in normal language or in a blog/blog title before, have you?

Ain’t I clever?

Anyway, back to the topic at hand: pen names.

This is something that I’ve been contemplating for awhile, now, especially after joining the Artist’s Retreat.

I chose to be called “Lucius Antony” on that site (and, ultimately, here) because I liked the name and it has been something that I’ve used in reference to myself for a few years in various (albeit limited) capacity.

But, the question is, do I really want to “brand myself” with that name? I have no problem with my real name, and would actually like to see my name in print.

However, “Lucius Antony” might stand out better than my real name and I will always know that “Lucius Antony” is me. And, as a journalist, I’ll see my name in print often enough. It might actually help in that aspect, should a journalist be known as a fiction writer, as well? I’m sure more than a few have.

However, I’ve already been creating something of a “brand name” around Lucius Antony, just by posting on this blog (read by Heaven knows how many people) and at the Artist’s Retreat.

I suppose it’s all a start.

Artist’s Way

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It’s official, I’m actually embarking on a type of self-help program. Me. I never expected this in a million years. I’ve tended to just shake my head at a friend of mine constantly reading therapeutic advice. Peak in her magazine rack and you’ll find all sorts of periodicals and books on raising children, improving marital relations, organizing the home, you name it.

Her computer monitor is decorated with a plethora of motivational stickers. Mine has pictures of sexy men, all my self improvement directed toward writing smut. Honestly, I have yet to see any of her allegedly life-changing endeavors have any lasting impact, giving me no reason to change my opinion.

So why am I trying Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way”? My chief reason is the same explanation for what I’m doing right now – blogging. The gifted folks of this Writer’s Retreat have inspired me to try many unexpected things. When some from this group and The Evanston Writers Workshop banded together for the months long program, my enthusiasm piqued.

Anything that opens my creative mind can only be good. And the testimonies I have been personally given inspire me to keep an open mind. Who knows? Like anything worthwhile, this will take time and commitment. Maybe I’ll be touting this to my pal three months from now. I’ll keep you updated. And in the meantime, I hope you’re finding the spirit of creation in whatever you do!