50K or BUST!

Here we are at the start of the NaNo adventure and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed already. I've done my share of plotting, outlining, and graph making. I think its just that putting in my word count...currently 3197...well, 6% doesn't  seem like all that much of a headway.

I have to remember that normally I take months to write a book so this is good progress...I shall chant this over and over to myself.

To make things a little more interesting I've posted the above chart for you "Discovery" writers or "Pantsers" as my crit partner calls herself.

Hope you are all doing well with the challenge!

+Raquel Byrnes 

Prepping for the BIG GAME

Prepping for NaNo is well underway in my house. Not only am I gearing up to participate myself, but the students in my creative writing class are taking part as well.  I've created a classroom and even ordered those adorable buttons for their backpacks. 

Its the BIG GAME for us writers. The play-offs of novel writing...

So I cheerlead and get excited and rile my students up for the big day.

I also try to have some funny Gifs and encouraging links because, lets face it, the idea of writing 50K words in one month is super intimidating.  My students are on the "youth" section so they can set their own goals...but still...that's a daunting task!

But when you look at it like this------->

Well, that seems a bit more doable!

So I am dusting off my style sheets and my "Fleshing Out" my character worksheets so that when November 1st rolls around I am prepared to just...write.

I will not worry about details or things that may sidetrack me. I will write and write and get to my goal this November.

What about you? What do you do to prepare for NaNo?  Any rituals or pre-game traditions to get yourself psyched?

Do you prepare on a writing program like Scrivener or are you old school index cards?  Do you think about what you're going to be working on or wing it?

I'd love to know... +Raquel Byrnes 

Every wrenching, staggering, soul stretching word.

So I've been having a bit of a problem. The thing is...I never really believed in writer's block until a few weeks ago. Never had any issues aside from needing MORE TIME.

A fellow author once told me over a decade ago that there is no such thing as writer's block, just wrong turns.  I believed that. Whenever I got stuck before I simply backtracked to where things started to get hard.

I've tried that. I went back chapter by chapter to see where plot points became difficult to maneuver...where dialogue turned tricky, where I went awry with the motivation...

You know what I discovered?

Nothing. Nada. Zinch. 

This novel has ALWAYS been difficult. I've constantly struggled to know and embrace and make my own this amazing alternate history genre.

Its a challenge for sure. I think I can actually feel my dendrites sparking as I will myself into this strange world.

So now I will stop looking for a starting over place. I will stop staring wistfully at my notes for easy answers. I will buckle down and just...write.  Every wrenching, staggering, soul stretching word.

Wish me luck!

Have You Seen My Man Muse?

So I'm rounding in on the 20,000 word mark on my current WIP. The thing is, its taken me so long to get here! I feel like I've been struggling with this story for so long its knitted to my bones.

Since June, I have clawed and deleted and guzzled cold coffee at one in the morning...only to snarl at the monitor and slash every paragraph I just wrote. 

I don't know why this seems to happen...EVERY time. I start out all bright-eyed and hopeful and then the image I had in my head seems to come out in a twisted, heaving mess on the paper. No worries, I tell myself. Its part of a process, the sculpting and winnowing, and I keep typing until...

Nothing sounds right, the characters betray me at every turn with their dumb dialogue and pointless action beats. The plot, once so clear and brilliant, disintegrates into a muddled, meandering mess. 

Mr. Vicious

Frustrated, I no longer even try to hide the arguments I am having OUT LOUD with the vicious book reviewer that occupies the dank corner of my mind. ----->

I believe I have reached this sanity-questioning point in my "process" for this book.  I'm a plotter and a planner, so most of my three-ring binder is filled with notes and flow charts and diagrams and the detritus of an uptight mind.  

So much so, that I may have planned myself out of inspiration.  Sometimes too much of a good thing is what gives you the dry heaves...right?

Man Muse

I think I may have to resort to some old fashioned free-writing, seat of my pants, stream of consciousness exercises to get my muse to return...that sadistic, fickle, desperately missed mister. 

<-----You know who you are, Man Muse! *sigh* 

What do you do when your story goes off the rails? Any great advice?  Feel free to commiserate in the comments. I feel you.

Photograph by The Shorts and Longs Photo by gdeantownshende

How To Interpret Contest Results

So a few months ago, you worked your hiney off polishing off that twenty-five to fifty page entry and you sent it along with your brilliant one-page synopsis to a bonifide writing contest. You've sweated out the details of what you included, what you SHOULD have included. Did you pick the right 'hook' sentence? Did you end with a good cliffhanger? Did you...did you...


I've been there myself. 


I've also been a contest judge several times before and I'm here to tell you, even if you didn't place, contests are a great investment for any writer.


As a contest judge, I spent at least two hours minimum, per entrant. I read, re-read, thought about what worked and why, and put all my notes in the comments.  I also included what the writer did well and how they might tighten up certain areas. I have high hopes for a lot of them because many were not only great ideas, but they were executed in unique ways.


But you do need to understand one thing...I had to give it a score that reflected the work in the state that it was in...not its potential.  And that is all the difference.


The Good


Just entering the contest has vaulted you light years ahead of a lot of writers. The discipline to conform to formatting, word count, and synopsis rules alone has taught you a lot about the submission process. Tack onto that the time you spent editing and you've spent some quality time on your work. Great job!


You also are one step closer to perfecting your proposal because all the work you did for the contest, can be cannibalized for submitting to agents.  You had to figure out what category you needed to submit your work under...and now you have a genre to put on your query. You have a one page synopsis and polished three chapters or so...voila!


The "Not So" Bad


Comments criticizing your writing will sting. No doubt, but...BUT...


Take a look at what your scores are and pay close attention to the comments or sentiments that are noted by all the judges.  So what if one judge thinks your story is slow?  
However...if all the judges say things like 'pacing' and 'backstory' then maybe consider reworking that area.  


A consensus will usually point to a true trouble spot.  Contests are opinion, I'll give you that, but they are professional opinions and if they all find fault with a particular aspect of your writing then take note.


Here's the thing. Not placing in the finals is actually a blessing in disguise. Your book wasn't quite ready to be in front of acquisition people and the good thing is...they won't see it until it is ready.  You don't want to burn those bridges before you've had a chance to put your best foot forward.


The Potential


Not placing doesn't mean your story sucks or your writing career is over. It also doesn't mean that they hated your idea or the story was stupid.  It means it needs some work...that's it. Think of it as a practice run for submitting to agents.


Like I said before, the score they give the entry is for the way it looks now, not the way it will be when its ready. Remember that.


Give It Time


Everyone's knee-jerk reaction to criticism is to argue. Its human. Especially when talking about something you've poured your heart into. When you get your scores and comments, read them over, resist the urge to throw your hands up and quit, and walk away.   Give yourself at least two full days to recover from the blow to your ego. I'm serious. Forty-eight hours minimum.


Call your bestie or your crit partner and vent. Eat ice cream. Cry. Then, when you've stopped arguing with the imaginary judge in your head, go back and read the comments as if they were from a mechanic. 


That's right...a mechanic.  Not some judge on high sentencing you to pre-published purgatory forever...but as someone whose job it is to help you get the kinks out before hitting the road again.


Keep On Trucking!

Your baby may need a few things tightened. You may need to polish a few things here and there. You may even have to replace a panel or chapter, as it were, but that does not mean you should just declare the whole thing totaled.  


And certainly don't believe you will never get where you're going cause you needed to make some tweaks!


You took a step many writers never take. You showed your work to someone. That is huge! Bask in the awesomeness that is you!  And keep in mind that this is a journey...enjoy the ride.


Until next time...Go Write!
Photo by Seattle Municipal Archives

Whew!

Photo by Kazarelth

I just spent the last two weeks hosting the Almost Kiss Clash over at COTT and what a blast that was! In case you missed the excerpts hop on over. The voting is over, but the winner will be revealed tomorrow!  

I wanted to check in and remind everyone about the Romance Writers of America Conference coming up July 25-28. It looks like it is going to be so much fun!


I don't think I'll be able to make it this year, but I know a few writers who are...I'm sure you'll all have a doozy of a time!


For those of you thinking of joining, the price better the earlier you register. Here is a link to the site's page.  If you are not a member, its still cheaper to go without purchasing a membership.


There is also a San Diego Christian Writers Guild Conference in the Fall that I will most likely attend. It is October 19-20. I highly recommend the Friday night Round Table discussion!


Be it the RWA or any other conference...if you go, you'll be exposed to so many opportunities to network and meet with industry professionals there. From agents to acquisition editors, the conference is jam packed with something for everyone.


I am going to start a series on proposal packages, queries, and one sheets starting next week to get you ready for the conference.


What about you? Are you planning to attend any writers conferences or workshops this year?  I'd love to hear what's out there!


Until next time...Go Write!

Don't Go in the Woods! - Location Clichés

Stephen King scares the ever loving stuffing out of me. He gets me every time. Do you know why? Because I NEVER see it coming. In one book, the terror takes place during a picturesque picnic...total annihilation of peace and tranquility in the blink of an eye. 


He lulls you into the happy everyday. Talking with a neighbor, visiting a sweet little grocery shop, digging in the garden and then BLAM! Something bizarrely horrifying just takes you down.

The Mist by Stephen King

So when a story takes place in a dark settings with only a flickering flashlight and then strange high pitched metal scraping sounds start emanating from the surrounding blackness...I kinda know someone is going to die -- terribly.


For those of you who read regularly, you know I am a totally planner/control freak and have made several lists of things to avoid in my writing. My posts on why Brakes Only  Fail On Hills was for action cliches to avoid -- And The Villain Is... list helps me not to give the bad guy away too quickly in suspense.  


But this list is my favorite because setting is something that I love to use as an antagonist. However, sometimes your backdrop is the equivalent of the REDSHIRT crew member on Star Trek...you know he's gonna die cause red shirts ALWAYS die during landing parties.


So here are some tips for your hero/heroine...

Photo by Michele Amato.

Never enter any abandoned building made of brick. Be it mental hospital, prison, girls reformatory, government facility...something bad probably happened there already so, in fiction land...that place it totally cursed/haunted/an evil lair.  A corollary to this rule: never walk near creeping vines, rusty iron gates, or dusty mausoleums with spider web thingies on the doorway.

Photo by Kidswithfireworks.

Never go underground for ANY reason. Especially "sealed off" places like secret subway tunnels and underneath streets...if a rat would live there, don't go there! If their light sources is "iffy" then the reader knows they'll probably be plunged into "inky darkness" and feel "something touch their leg"...don't do it!

Photo by Marilyn Roxie.

Never frolic with the opposite sex amid vegetation. This is just asking for an eye roll. Are they teenagers? Should they not be with this "forbidden" partner? Have there been strange noises/markings on the walls in blood/missing people recently? If so...slash the scene. One or both of the wayward characters will die here, that is obvious. The question really is will it be the chick who trips while being chased or the guy that "goes to check out the noise."

Never go anywhere NEAR plumbing. Nothing good ever happens in defunct boiler rooms, lets face it. Also catwalks near steam pipes...never a good sign. Even in space, the bowels of the inter galactic colony's atmospheric converter is a truly terrible place to venture. Killers/Breeding Aliens love to hide in shadows and clouds of vapor at the end of dank tunnels lined with water pipes. Everyone knows that. No heroine in her right mind would go down there.

Just weird lighting... right?

Never wander around in places with layers of dust thicker than a piece of paper. Attics, cellars, basements with strange pulley systems dangling from the ceilings. These all have virtual "Evil Inside" signs hanging over them. If there are white sheets draped over the furniture and mirrors...your heroine should turn and run.

Never walk in water higher than your ankles. Don't wade through waist-high anything, really. You can't run effectively, you will most likely accidentally drop/extinguish your light source in it, and its impossible to be quiet with water sloshing around. Nefarious ninjas breathing through reeds, one-eyed trash eating aliens, even the occasional flushed alligator hide in water that deep. Don't write it...don't go in it.

Uh...no.

Of course there are a great many stories that have these places and have used them effectively and with surprising twists. The thing about suspense and mystery...even horror, is to catch the reader unawares. 


As a writer, you want to keep them off balance, instill the heebie jeebies, and have them afraid to put the book down and afraid to keep going.

What are some clichéd places for dark deeds that you've come across? Do you have any favorites?

Until next time...Go Write!

POV Preference: 1st or 3rd?

Photo by Phineas H.

I'm currently having a bit of a dilemma. I started writing a book in the the first person, which is what I've done for my other four books, but this story...this new series...maybe I need to try something different.


I used to write in 3rd person when I wrote action thrillers, but when I wrote my romantic suspense series, the intimate POV of the first person just seemed to fit. I wrote the hero's point of view in 3rd person, but that's it.


As a reader, I don't get tripped up by things like this. If I open a book and get completely hooked withing the first few pages, it doesn't matter to me in what POV the story is told.


As a writer, do you stick with only one POV? One of my favorite authors wrote in third person only to switch, mid series, into first person, and then back again. It totally made sense.


I guess my question is if there is a definite preference. Do readers have a favorite POV? Does it matter if you are not a writer and just looking for a great story?


I'd love you hear your take; author or reader -- sound off.

***

Also, I am hosting my first Clash of the Titles challenge on Monday! It is the Almost Kiss Clash and I can't wait to share the two great excerpts with you...don't forget to vote for a chance to win the drawing!

Warring Spirits, COTT Selection

*guest post by Michelle Massaro

(Ms. Davy) was an amazing cheerleader and I lived to make her smile with my stories. Whether I really was or not at that point, she made me believe I was a good writer. 

~ Sr. Editor April Gardner, on who inspired her writing.

***

Today we get to spend some time with COTT founder April Gardner. April is an amazing author, good friend, and an inspiration to me. She’s a sometime home school mom, a military wife, a talented writer, and a frugal do-it-yourselfer. So I was excited to get to pick her brain! Below are the questions that I always wanted to ask. I’m sure you will find them just as fascinating as I do.

Michelle: April, what was it like growing up with missionary parents?

April: We never lacked for excitement, that's for sure! Some MKs struggle with change, but I never minded it. I was shy and content merely to be with my family; wherever they were, I was happy, no matter the town or country! Growing up in Spain and learning Spanish was one of God's beautiful gifts to me. 

Michelle: That's so cool! Some might be surprised to hear that you are dyslexic. What advice or encouragement would you give to others out there struggling with dyslexia?

April: I'd imagine that most reading this are adults, and by the time dyslexics reach adulthood, they've managed to cope quite well. Having a child with dyslexia, however, was something that took me completely by surprise, surprisingly. LOL From what I hear, it goes through the mother, so odds were pretty good one of my kids would struggle with it. When it comes to dealing with a dyslexic child I've learned three things. 1. Patience is the name of the game! 2. Don't be afraid to reach out for help. 3. There is no shame in being dyslexic or having another learning difficulty.

Michelle: You have now experienced both the public school world and the home school world. What are your observations comparing both? 

April: My most important observation is that God's plan for our children's education is 1. God's plan for us in unique! I cannot compare how others chose to educate their children with our own choices. 2. God's plan for us is not set in stone, never to change. What might be His will one year, might not be the next. We must be flexible and keep our ears tuned to Him. He'll speak most loudly through our kids via their progress, contentment, discipline, and attitude.

Michelle: Great insights! Ok, so what began your fascination with history?

April: Laura Ingells Wilder and her Little House books! They were the first "big" books that held my attention well enough to make reading worth all the effort. I haven't looked back since!

Michelle: I love those books too! You are a military spouse--where have you lived, and which was your favorite place?

April: The military first moved us to Germany. We were 19 years old and newly married. Our tour lasted 7 years. Straight from there, we went to England for four years, and we've currently been in Georgia 2.5 years. Germany holds a very dear place in our hearts for many reasons, but I have felt most content and fulfilled right here in Georgia. God bless the USA!! Boy, it's good to be home. :-)

Michelle: Wow, that sounds so adventurous! And now you're a published author--another adventure! Who first inspired you to pursue publication and writing? Who inspires you today?

April: Several people along the path of my life worked together to inspire me to pick up the pen, but the first was my high school creative writing teacher, Ms. Davy. She was an amazing cheerleader and I lived to make her smile with my stories. Whether I really was or not at that point, she made me believe I was a good writer. Today, it's the drive to reach goals that inspires me. I do love a challenge!!

Michelle: Of the characters you've created, who is your favorite and why?

April: True Seeker, the budding Creek Indian warrior from my latest novel, Warring Spirits, is my favorite character so far. His heart is good and true to his name, he seeks wisdom, honor, and a personal relationship with the Giver and Taker of Breath.

Michelle: I like his character too. But of course, they're all good in my opinion! Besides writing excellent historical romance novels, you also have a lot to share on your blog about managing health issues with diet, frugality, and parenting. Any idea what's coming up in 2012?

April: Great question! LOL My blog is ever changing, but yes, I do tend to focus on those topics. Right now, I'm on an all-natural foods kick, so I'm sure my followers will see more of those tips in the future.

Michelle: Tell us about your recent book releases.

April: Warring Spirits is my latest adult fiction release. It's set in 1816 and is the story of a woman who might be able to hide her African heritage except for her hair, which is a dead give-away. Milly's escape from slavery leads her to the safety of Negro Fort where Major Phillip Bailey, believing her to be white, takes it upon himself to "free" her from the stronghold. At the same time, he's ordered to launch an attack against it. Accomplishing both is a virtual impossibility, especially when the beautiful woman doesn't want to be rescued. Where blood is shed, unexpected love may bloom!

Michelle: I've read it and it's awesome! Head to Amazon you guys,  you won't regret it. April, thanks for answering all my hard-hitting questions today, lol.

Readers, check out COTT this week for some of our favorite Amish Excerpts!

Brakes Only Fail on Hills and Other Action Cliches

So here's the thing...I love, LOVE action and suspense. A requirement for my movie-going experience is that something blows up and there are car chases, gunfire, and some form of fight scene in which furniture is used as weapons. Yeah, my husband is totally lucky.


I also write Romantic Suspense...so in my books there are lot of emotions and drama and angsty relationship stuff, but there are also a lot of thrills.  What I don't want is for those scenes to be "done before" and therefore not at all entertaining.


So I've made a list of things that happen in movies and books...scratch that, ALMOST EVERY MOVIE or BOOK...scenes that I should avoid at all costs. Lets start out with the little annoying things...

Photo by San Diego Shooter.

If the heroine is in a nature setting and an animal attacks, she will be the only one the predator goes for despite the fact that there are multiple Sherpas, bad guys lurking in the bushes, and a love interest within inches of her.


Raging river rapids are no match for the speed of the hero despite rough terrain as he is always able to run alongside the person being swept away and in fact...get ahead of them, find a tree that has fallen exactly halfway across the water, and fashion a rescue loop in time to pluck them to safety.

Photo by Greggoconnel.

Bad guys always kill someone in front of giant picture windows with open drapes. Especially when the heroine is jogging by or bird watching and accidentally happens to look at said window with binoculars or a camera.
Corollary to this rule is that her face is always brightly lit by lightning or passing car headlights to give the villain a proper look at her.

Random hot guy in glasses.

Super sexy heroes never have glasses. They never squint, hold secret evidence files at arms length to read them, and they can always decipher-pronounce obscure words even if they are in a different language or from a magical realm.


Intercourse is possible with any sentient being from any corner of the universe/realm/magical species because they all are physically identical to humans -- except hotter. They also fall in love instantly, for very specific reasons, for eternity even if they have just glanced at the heroine.

Photo by Wonderlane.

All bombers abide by the international color codes for wires so that the hero/heroine knows which wire to cut. The exception to this rule is of course, if the hero/heroine is in fact a bomb expert...then the bomb is "something they've never seen before" and the wire they cut makes the time go faster.


If your brakes fail, you MUST be either in San Francisco during some sort of protest or on winding dark mountain cliff roads where you will end up dangling with two tires teetering over a deadly drop...otherwise the hero cannot find and rescue you just as a bird lands on the bumper and causes the car to fall and explode. 

Heroes must always be intimately acquainted with every street, access road, and "secret shortcut" of any city they are in despite having never visited before. They must also be able to navigate dark and defunct boiler rooms below street-level with nothing but a lighter and a keen sense of hearing.

Secret dynamo.

All hackers are antisocial, pierced/tattooed, have strange or ironic hairdo's and are secret dynamos in the sack.


Okay, that one is actually probably spot on...>


Those are some of my favorite action/thriller cliches...do you have any that just irritate you? How about some fallacies that really pull you out of the book and make you roll your eyes?


Until next time...Go Write!

First photo by o5com.

Working Like a Dog!

I have totally loved my vacation! I am a little bummed its almost over. My teacher hubby goes back to work on Monday, the homeschooling starts up again, and..."Writer Raquel" is back in action!


After working super hard on edits in December, the crazy party/dinners season started for Christmas...at least for all my kids. Let me tell you, six kids makes for a lot of running around. And what is it with White Elephant gift  exchanges...those are hard to shop for!


So now that I'm getting back into the swing of "Authorhood"... I wonder what you all did over the vacation. I always had the impression that things in publishing slow down as far as submission acceptances and what not. Have you guys had any interesting news this past month? What about all the Indy Authors? Did you step things up for the holiday buying season?

Photograph by KM Photography

Anti-Heroes 101: The Elusive Bad Boy

So far in my series on how to write bad boys, I've touched on, The Mysterious Bad Boy and the Bad Boy With Potential. Both posts were lots of fun to write and I encourage you to take a look.

The Dark Quality:

For a lot of men, its the chase...right? Well that is not always the case. For my third installment of this series we explore the draw of the one we just can't seem to catch; The Elusive Bad Boy.

Maybe he is outside our social strata, economic standing, or just plain not available because he doesn't realize we exist...for a lot of women, this bad boy is too hard to resist chasing.

The Appeal:

Ever hear from your friends that the guy she was dating was 'too nice' or maybe 'boring' and she just can't put her finger on why she liked him in the first place? She caught him...that's what the problem is.

You see, the Elusive Bad Boy is attractive because he is a challenge. A lot has been said about men and the hunt, but women in romance novels need a challenge too and the un-catchable man is a prize that ramps up the conflict.

The Set Up:

Famous Elusive Bad Boys are Romeo as in the star-crossed lover of Juliet. Also a man that is meant for another; this is often used in period romances where a second or third son of a noble is duty-bound to marry the woman whose family provides the best alliance despite who he 'truly loves' and desires.

So he appears unatainable, aloof, but there is something there and she knows it. And its those fleeting tastes of what could be that keep her hooked on this guy.

Take opportunities to show his inner turmoil over loyalty to his family/group and his desire for a future with the heroine.  Let her see this and understand where he's coming from and what is at stake. It must be abundantly clear why he is torn. She must have a reason to keep chasing...

The Reward

This Bad Boy is torn between all that he knows and the potential future with the heroine. She is both drawn to and frustrated by his loyalty and this drives the conflict and tension between them. 

A contemporary example would be Charlie Hunnam's character in Sons of Anarchy. Jax Teller, the heir apparent for SamCrow loves a woman that is both outside the club and a threat...this makes for awesome tension. Where do Jax's loyalties lie? How far is he willing to bend the rules to be with her? Will she be the destruction of everything he knows? Will she survive his world?

The Heart's Hope:

In the end, of course, it is through her perseverance, understanding, and equally noble behavior that finally wins him over. The reward here is that she knows what it cost to be with her and that to him, she is worth it. In the end, the chaser becomes the pursued and they finally revel in their hard-won love.

Remember that this type of romance is wrought with heartache, sacrifice, and uncertainty. This is not the type of character to go with if you're writing a romantic comedy or a sweet southern story.

The heroine must be strong-willed, self assured, and a worthy adversary for both the hero and the women within his group. Make sure that she has a special talent or ability that proves helpful because that is usually what wins him and those he loves over.

Is she a lawyer and gets them out of trouble? Is she psychic and helps them to find a lost loved one? Maybe she's a doctor and is able to attend to one of their members in secret.  She has to be valuable to both the group AND the hero in order to make choosing her a viable option.

***Crossover Potential***

The Elusive Bad Boy is often mashed up with The Mysterious Bad Boy because both have secrets that they must protect. Whether its the inner workings of the family organization, the political intrigue of the nobles, or the bloodlust of their elders...this bad boy is a rush to write!

Do you have a favorite elusive bad boy?  Any examples in media or books that really grabbed your attention?

Until next time...Go Write!

Anti-Heroes 101: Bad Boy with Potential

Last week we kicked off my series on writing anti-heroes with The Mysterious Bad Boy post. 


The Dark Quality:
Today we are touching on...the Bad Boy With Potential.  He's talented and insightful and if it wasn't for the aimless streak, a seriously successful dude. This is the amazing artist, the genius in the rough, or the untapped hero. 


For whatever reason. For instance; a guilty past  where he doesn't feel he deserves success. He is hiding or avoiding his true calling.


The Appeal:
So this is the reverse of the princess in the tower. This is a guy that needs to be rescued from himself. He must be written as a true talent  with an amazing personality that is both humble and noble or he'll just come off as a slacker. 


Whatever is holding him back should appear insurmountable at first. And there has to be a concrete reason why he is without direction. We see this a lot in romantic comedies where there are two potential suitors. One is highly successful, but flawed and the other is the nice guy that hasn't really hit his stride yet.


The Set Up:
Our Bad Boy with Potential is often set up as the hunky room mate or co-worker with the kick back attitude. He is often the confidant to the frazzled heroine as she pursues the wrong guy for her. One that this guy knows will break her heart. He can also be the childhood friend, think Sweet Home Alabama's Josh Lucas.


Overlooking this guy can lead to some great conflict for your heroine. Not understanding her attraction to someone so outside of what she thinks she needs.  He can also harbor an old flame for her and that can cause tension between them when its clear she wants another.  There are a lot a great opportunities for inner conflict with this couple.


Your heroine must have a maternal quality for this recipe to work. Whether its the fact that she's known him forever and therefore knows his heart is noble or her own experience with mothering siblings, she has to have the nurture quality to see the potential.

The Reward:
With every bad boy story line, you need to have that moment of redemption. That scene where all the things he's done or said finally make sense. Usually ten chapters in or so, the time you need to supply the first major disaster.


Show his hidden strength and nobility to the reader. Does he take the high road in a confrontation with his rival, and doesn't take credit for that? Does she see him treating someone who can do nothing for him with honor and respect?  Set up a scenario in which the successful man and he deal with a situation in opposing ways and make your Bad Boy with Potential come out the better man.


Make who he is and how he truly loves her the most pure and cherishing of the two suitors.  The reward is that he really knows her and loves her despite her flaws. That his is a better, more substantial man. Make his talent or potential somehow relate to her...


Remember in Sweet Home Alabama where she discovers the lightning glass is how he first became successful and that it was something they discovered together in their youth?  That has a deeper connection that will resonate with the heroine and, by extension, your reader.


The Heart's Hope:
There has to be a reason that a successful woman would see something in who at first appears to be a total loser. Sprinkle throughout the first chapters, hints of his success. Whether its seeing him in a mysterious meeting, having him hide something he's working on, or hearing of his success in passing from others...there needs to be evidence that she sees and the reader sees of his potential.


This is where her heart's hope comes into play... This type of woman wants to feel a part of something and her helping him provides a sense of being connected and needed.


Also, if he's an artist and she is his muse, then she is halfway to being hooked because inspiring greatness in someone is a huge ego boost and draw.


***Character Bonus***
Because the Bad Boy with Potential is often already in the heroine's life in the form of a room mate, co-worker, or other peripheral position, this character has the added bonus of knowing how much of a nutter the heroine is and loving her anyway. He's proved his staying power. He loves her despite her flaws. That is always a good thing.


What about you? Can you name your favorite Bad Boy with Potential from movies or books?  


Until next time...Go Write!Publish Post

Going DARK...

With my recently finished Gothic romance, Whispers on Shadow Bay, off to the designated people and places I am free to dally in different projects while I...you guessed it...wait. The life of a writer, right? Sigh.


One great thing about waiting is that it opens up the creative possibilities. I'm not working on a book to fit into a series nor am I trying to write to a specific imprint's requirements. I'm just writing for the sheer pleasure of it and seeing where the character and the story goes.


This is actually what happened last time. I was done with the third book in my Shades of Hope series and was wondering if I should write a fourth, but not really feeling it.


I'd fumbled NaNoWriMo terribly....like train wreck. So I decided to explore a genre I'd been reading and toying with....and ended up writing a whole book.


This time around I seem to be treading the same waters. Not sure if I should go forward with the second book in the Gothic romance series because the first one is still out in proposals...so what to do?


Well...I've started a book called, Dark.  Its a romantic suspense, but with a lot of danger and thrills in the chase. My main character, a very reluctant addition to the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team, struggles with the whole process of crime scene investigation, bodies, and the danger involved with hunting a killer...and we take the harrowing journey with her.


I've had a great time constructing a twitchy, unique personality in a primarily alpha-male environment. Its been said that her mind works in a great and terrible way and the process of writing how she sees the world, the crime, and the unseen flow of it has been so fun!


Plus...I might get to go on a ride along with our men in blue if I'm lucky!


So, I'm off to do more research. The librarians think I'm crazy anyway since the last time I was there I asked for books on old cemeteries, hidden passageways, and daggers.


What do you do when you finish a project? Are there unfinished stories rattling around in your head that are just dying to be written? I'd love to know what lurks in the dark corners of your writer's mind.


Until next time...Go Write!
Photograph by Alan Cleaver_2000 Photograph by Christopher Craig