Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour

Procrastin…. Squirrel!

2012-02-25T11:45:00.000-05:00

Many years ago I heard someone say that procrastination is not the cause, but rather the symptom of something else. I tend to agree. Think about it – when you’ve procrastinated there was probably something more pressing requiring your attention. Or perhaps some truth you were trying to avoid. Let me explain. Continue reading on my blog.

King of Excuses's Court

2012-02-23T13:06:00.000-05:00

Trying something a bit more creative this time around, so come see the Court of the King of Excuses, to see what things he's heard from writers to avoid writing!

http://swordsvspens.blogspot.com/2012/02/court-of-king-of-excuses.html

Looking Forward to Tomorrow's Tomorrow...Tomorrow

2012-02-21T06:00:00.014-05:00

My mother claims that I hold the honorary title of World's Worst Procrastinator, and seeing as I've neglected to place my car's registration sticker on my license plate for the past four months now, I have to wonder if she's right. Read more...

Procrastination: the excuse of free time

2012-02-20T13:43:00.001-05:00

As seen from the time I’m posting this, I’m using the power of procrastination to its fullest. Reality was that until yesterday I was busy with studying for 4 exams, which make up the Top 5 of reasons right now why not to write. Unfortunately, number fifth is everything else one chooses to ignore... Please continue reading at my blog.

Jean's Procrastination Approach

2012-02-19T00:58:00.001-05:00

I take a little different approach to procrastination than some people. I don't fight it; I embrace it. See how here.

Procrastination: Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour #8

2012-02-16T00:13:00.002-05:00

Unlike a lot of writers, I'm faced with a different type of procrastination

Many people will tell you that they'll procrastinate in any number of ways to avoid writing. They'll clean, knit, wash dishes and herd cats before they'll willingly Open their WIP (Work in Progress) and write the next scene.

Not me. I'll write to procrastinate from having to do anything else.

(Read More)

Because downhill battles are too boring

2012-02-11T14:52:00.001-05:00

I have mastered only one skill in life: procrastination. Read about it on my new WordPress blog here.

Procrastination=Avoidance

2012-02-10T08:13:00.000-05:00

Every month, on the 10th day, I take part on the Forward Motion for Writers Blog Tour. Every month, I get to the 10th and realize in utter panic, that I haven't thought of what to write for the monthly topic. Ironically, this month, the month when the topic is procrastination, I'm actually writing this post ahead of time.
(Read more. . . )

An Experiment in Procrastination

2012-02-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

The things I do for my writing... check it out here.

Procrastination fears me

2012-02-02T08:45:00.001-05:00

Procrastination and I are old friends. The other day, for example, I was contemplating pushing aside the novel I was working on editing to go bake chocolate chip cookies. I even went so far as to mention it on Facebook. To read the rest of how procrastination and I get along, continue reading on my blog.

Procrastination in AlexWorld

2012-02-01T16:14:00.001-05:00

Head on over to AlexWorld for a simple definition and solution for a writer's fiercest enemy: procrastination.

My Ideal Reader - Surprise!

2012-01-29T09:10:00.000-05:00

My ideal reader...what a difficult thing to tackle. I suppose that there are a number of writers that have a specific person in mind when they write a story but that's not me. When a story hits me I usually am to busy scrambling to to get it all onto paper (or computer) to think too much about who I'm writing for. I suppose that in that sense I'm a selfish writer.

Read more about my ideal reader on my blog...

You've got readers!

2012-01-26T22:32:00.000-05:00

Who is my Ideal Reader? That is a very good question. January is Ideal Reader month on the Forward Motion Merry-Go-Round blog. Each writer needs to take time and figure this out to see if they are meeting the needs of the reader.

To find out who that reader is visit: http://tiptoeingthroughmetaphors.blogspot.com/2012/01/youve-got-readers.html

Ideal Readers

2012-01-25T14:13:00.000-05:00

This month's FM Merry-Go-Round blog is about my ideal reader. That's an interesting topic. Especially since, as authors, it's up to us to target our audience. My professional writing career started 1998 with the sale of my first non-fiction book, then refreshed in 2005 with the sale of my first novel. My view of the ideal reader has changed a lot since then. Continue reading on my site.

My Ideal Reader: I'm Your Biggest Fan!

2012-01-21T07:00:00.024-05:00

I can only imagine that my Ideal Reader is about as easy to find as my Fantasy Soulmate. Sure he's tall, handsome in that rakish I'm-sexy-but-don't-care kind of way, has a soothing yet fun accent, is mixmaster of the appletini, keeps me in paradise with an endless supply of backrubs, and his last name translates as "the hotness." Okay, I'm sure he doesn't exist. But is my Ideal Reader as imaginary?
Read more...

Striped punk stockings

2012-01-20T01:00:00.000-05:00

„I read, because you read! And you read, because I read!“ I started listing on piece of paper the qualities I want from my reader. The list came surprisingly short. It’s not the question I haven’t face before, but the reality is, it tends to change it’s answers. Continue reading in my blog.

MGR Blog Tour: My Ideal Reader

2012-01-19T00:20:00.001-05:00

As you've noticed, we're discussing our ideal readers this month. I'm looking for some help with this definition, but I may not have given you enough to go on yet: http://polarbear60.org/randr/2012/01/19/mgr-ideal-reader/

The Ideal Reader: Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour #7

2012-01-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

This is one of those subjects that really should be easy, right? Authors should know who their ideal readers would be . . . except it isn't so much about them as it is about us. And we're not always as good at looking at ourselves as we are at looking out into the boundless dark where readers lurk, just beyond our reach.

(Read More)

Engaging Idealism

2012-01-13T00:10:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the latest installment of the Forward Motion Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour! We’ve gathered several writers from amateur to professional, and we discuss one topic for the month. This month’s theme is the ideal reader.

Despite the straight forwardness of the subject matter, I’ve found little to chew on. What is 'The Ideal Reader'? Am I supposed to define the title? Blather on about the dearth of Ideal Readers? Praise the ones I have? Write a fictional short short about one? I don't know. That's the point of such open-ended topics, I guess. Each writer has the freedom to go wherever he or she wants with it. I tend to be a pretty concrete-thinking person, though, so I'm at a loss.

~~~

you, the ideal reader

2012-01-11T14:13:00.001-05:00

On a cold, dreary day you turn off the TV and lay on a pillow on your sofa. Wrapped in a blanket, you turn on your e-reader and scroll through the available books you have. You shiver at the thought of buying another teenage vampire knock-off, and you have little patience for books that don't tell stories. Rain pelts on the windows, leaving streak marks across the glass. The traffic outside is loud, but you've tuned it out, just like you tuned out the fact that you have to go to work tomorrow. Read more...

LJ Cohen's Ideal Reader

2012-01-10T11:09:00.004-05:00

This month's topic for the FM Writers Merry-Go-Round blog tour is to explore your ideal reader. It pretty much a perfect topic with perfect timing for me this month. I've been participating in a lot of guest blog Q&A posts and 'who is your perfect reader?' is a question that has come up more than once.

I have struggled to answer it in a pithy, snappy way and I think the question does deserve serious consideration.
(read more. . . )

Bonnie R. Schutzman's ideal reader

2012-01-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

I write for myself. It doesn't sound very noble--especially compared to the insights Alex explored over at AlexWorld. A writer who takes her work seriously ought to be that thoughtful about the work, that understanding of the audience and the market, that deeply involved in the entire process. But I'm not. I just write for myself. Read more at Cowgirl in New England.

D.M. Bonanno - My Ideal Reader

2012-01-03T23:11:00.000-05:00

I’ve heard that some writers envision their reader and target their story for that person. I haven’t been able to do that, which has been my struggle with the picture books. I’ve tried writing for my daughter, but if the idea doesn’t work, it isn’t going to work. Maybe I just don’t write that way. Honestly, I have enough ideas flowing past me, I can snatch them out of the air, until I start trying to be picky. So, I just hug my muse and start writing.

So who would enjoy my writing? Continue reading here: DMBonanno

My ideal reader

2012-01-02T11:15:00.000-05:00

I like to make things for people, which you might realize if you've been following my blog for a while. There's something very pleasing about giving somebody something that was made just for them, created with them in mind. That being the case, it should make sense that I create stories and books with someone specific in mind, right? To learn more about my ideal reader, read the rest of my post.

AlexWorld Readers

2012-01-01T14:55:00.000-05:00

Are you my ideal reader?

If you are, you’re someone who wants to get to know yourself — and the rest of the world — better. You love getting inside the head of other people and figuring them out. You understand the importance of choice and look for ways to increase you understanding of the consequences of your own choices.

Sound like you? Read more over at AlexWorld to discover if you are indeed my ideal reader.

FAMILY TREE

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

“The fish boat had barely touched land when your Pa and I heard howling from down by the river that one night.” He paused, as if remembering. “Clearest night you ever did see too. Good a night as any for fishing, I reckon. Ayup, no such luck though. Read more on The Literary Hub

Holiday Cheer

2011-12-26T20:20:00.000-05:00

The Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour is celebrating the holidays so I tackled my Christmas Day adventure.

December brings many holidays to celebrate to everyone in our world. So this month, the Merry Go Round Blog Tour is discussing holidays. I will focus on what I know, Christmas. It is a blessing and a curse every year in so many ways. But no one wants to hear about the bad... See the rest of the story at my blog: http://tiptoeingthroughmetaphors.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-cheer.html

Holidays!

2011-12-25T02:18:00.000-05:00

This month's FM Blog Tour post was a writing prompt called Holidays. I actually ended up with Christmas as my posting date.

So Merry Christmas! To those who celebrate other holidays - Happy Holidays!

I am going to take a moment to to share some of my thoughts about the holidays with you. Rest assured I'm not awake as this is posted. Auto-post is a brilliant feature. I actually wrote this post weeks ago. Chances are I'm sleeping in. Then later this afternoon I'll get up and go celebrate a secular Christmas holiday with my family at my sister's house. Continue reading on my blog.

Christmas Eve At My House

2011-12-24T07:30:00.001-05:00

Hello. It's Christmas Eve today. Are you here on the internet today? Please come with me for a Christmas Eve picture tour of our home.

Continue reading on my blog...

Writer's Gingerbreads

2011-12-20T01:15:00.000-05:00

Perfect time to make cookies everybody can enjoy! If you are interested to find out more, please continue reading at my blog. Merry Christmas :)

The Holidays

2011-12-19T00:20:00.002-05:00

The message is brief this month, but please come on over to Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer and say hello.

The Bear on the High Shelf

2011-12-15T02:44:00.001-05:00

The shelf was too high!

The teddy bear watched as people stopped to study the stuffed animals on the shelves below him. They often took a lucky one home with them, but few patrons of the crowded, small shop ever looked up at the shelf far above their heads. Certainly, the children never saw him, the only teddy bear on the shelf near the ceiling.

(Read More)

Black Wednesday

2011-12-11T11:27:00.001-05:00

Some women love diamonds, but the ladies who practice black sorcery... Well, it's best not to ask too many questions about their heart's desires. But at Vladmar's Wand Shoppe, you're guaranteed to find the perfect gift for the dark witch in your life. Just don't step on the turtle. Read more...

Holiday Musings

2011-12-10T18:09:00.001-05:00

This month's topic for the Forward Motion Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour is Holidays. I've been struggling to think of an angle to write about that connects with my writing, but I really couldn't come up with anything that seemed appropriate. Then I reflected on all the Christmas lights in my neighborhood and remembered when my now 18 year old son realized that most people in our area were a different religion than we were.

I think this has relevance to my writing, particularly in terms of working with characters who feel outcast, different in any way. (read more. . . )

Worldbuilding Holidays

2011-12-04T19:45:00.000-05:00

Coming off of Erin’s post, I have to smile at how even like-minded people can interpret themes differently. Upon reading this month’s theme, I associated holidays with writing through world-building.

If you'd like to learn more, head over to D.M. Bonanno.

Holidays: Inshi

2011-12-02T15:45:00.002-05:00

Inshi tied the last of the ribbons to tree in the old cemetery as the bells in the village monastery tolled noon. Just in time! That last ribbon hadn’t wanted to stay tied; it would probably be the first to fly free. If you want to read the rest of what Inshi's up to -- and find out why I'm writing about her today -- check out the rest of the post on my blog.

Interviewing G.R. Colorado

2011-11-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Question: What would you say to the words ‘Publishing Industry’?

Answer: Short of having an affair with the President, gaining fame then writing about it? Continue reading on The Literary Hub

Inner Workings of a Writer

2011-11-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

November is self-interview month on the Blog Tour. So I will attempt to ask creative questions and give honest answers. I hope this will offer insight into my mind for myself as well. Here we go:

To see what is going on inside my head, head on over to http://tiptoeingthroughmetaphors.blogspot.com/2011/11/inner-workings-of-writer.html

Were-Cats... In Space!

2011-11-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

A pink and yellow spotted unicorn looks at me from across the desk. “So as a writer you probably get a lot of writing questions.”

I nod. “That’s true.”

The audience laughs.

“Well how about we don’t talk about your latest bestselling book, Werewolves on the Edge.” She lifts my latest tome up so the camera can get a good shot of the cover.

Continue Reading on my blog...

Getting to Know this blogger

2011-11-23T13:09:00.002-05:00

Q. Why the Pen versus the Sword?
I’m willing to admit, I’m not much of a violent person. I believe that compromise wins arguments, not brute strength. Read More at: http://swordsvspens.blogspot.com/2011/11/getting-to-know-blogger.html

Self-Interview

2011-11-20T01:06:00.000-05:00

Do you base your characters on real people? I avoid it. I have characters, which have got inspiration from real people, but I never use them as one-on-one. I develop them all myself and though I borrow line or two from friends, I find it unethical to base entire form on them. Not only because it can tare people apart, but because they trust me not to end up in my books and I respect them for it. I write fantasies, after all and it’s not easy to walk around being judged by some outsider’s view on your life. In your local newspaper there is a discussion over ending support for light reading in libraries to support more local writers. What do you think of it? You can read more of this from the blog.

Interview with Jean

2011-11-19T00:30:00.001-05:00

This month's topic is an interview with myself, so head on over and see what Jean had to say this month at Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer

A Psuedo-Holiday Letter from Zette

2011-11-16T19:28:00.001-05:00

Today I should have been doing a self-interview for the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour, but I couldn't quite get my head around the questions -- which is odd for someone who generally interviews authors for Vision. So I thought I would write a pseudo-holiday letter instead and let you know what's going on in my world.

A Self Interview

2011-11-13T15:41:00.002-05:00

It’s that time of month again — the Forward Motion Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour! Yay! This month’s topic is a self-interview. I hate interviews, so I hope I’ll be gentle with myself. What do you think?

Q. Can you tell us something about what you’re working on?

As a matter of fact, I can! (Funny how that turns out, huh?)

See the answer and more on my blog, In Shadows.

Q&A: A day late and a dollar short. . .

2011-11-11T18:09:00.001-05:00

Well, I've done it again. Realized a day late that *yesterday* was my Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour posting day. Sigh.

This month's topic is a self-interview. So here's my go at a Q & A of things about me you might want to know. I wanted to do something pithy and ironic, but I don't have that sense of comic timing nor do I do irony well. I figured I'd just go with my typical earnest, serious self. (Read more here)

while on break from NaNoWriMo

2011-11-11T16:41:00.001-05:00

The timing for my turn on the blog tour worked out wonderfully, given today is my Friday Project day. That is, I'm taking it a little easier on the writing and I'm not focused on my main project. So I'm on break from the frenzy and, given this month's theme is "self-interview", I will split myself in half to ask me a few questions. Read more...

My Muse & I

2011-11-03T23:00:00.000-04:00

'Evening. DMBonanno here. This month’s FM Merry Go Round topic is Self Interview. In an offshoot of that, I’d like to interview my Muse. The Muse might sound like an aspect of multiple personality disorder, but really, she’s a representation of how I compartmentalize aspects of my life. Plus, I never had an imaginary friend as a child. My Muse showed up about fifteen years ago when I moved out on my own. Or maybe it was that I could finally hear her.

Read the interview here.

Q & A on Erin

2011-11-02T10:30:00.001-04:00

What's the silliest question I've ever been asked? How about the latest adventure I've had? If you're curious and want to learn more about me, check out my post today, Q & A on me.

Alex Who?

2011-11-01T18:49:00.000-04:00

At some point this month I'll get around to interviewing myself. When I do, I'll update this post and you can find out a bit more about me (like why I didn't do this interview earlier despite having worked as a professional organizer).

Revision or Did I Really Write That?

2011-10-29T09:01:00.000-04:00

Revision is important. You learn it in grade school and it gets drilled into you throughout high school and college. It's purpose is to catch your mistakes, make the necessary grammar and punctuation corrections etc.

Read more on my blog....

Top 10 Tips For Revising Your Manuscript

2011-10-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

1. Let The Draft Sit – for a week or two before attempting revisions will often provide a fresh eye. Read more on The Literary Hub

Revision, revision, revision

2011-10-26T00:33:00.000-04:00

October is a good month to discuss revision. It is such an important step in the writing process.
Please visit my blog to get the whole story: http://tiptoeingthroughmetaphors.blogspot.com/2011/10/revision-revision-revision.html

Revision, My Friend

2011-10-25T11:36:00.002-04:00

I think a lot of writers would agree with me if I admitted my best work happens during revision. Sure, ideas are great. First drafts on the other hand, or more properly *my* first drafts, just never nail it. When I’m initially writing something what I’m generally doing is writing down the bones. I write like one might build a house. First you lay the foundation. Then you put up your frame. Then you add your wiring and plumbing. Then the walls go up and finally — at the very end — you add a coat of paint. I know, it’s probably not the best analogy, but it works. Continue reading...

Revision--The Fun Part of Writing

2011-10-24T11:20:00.002-04:00

Revision--for some writers it is a dirty word that they don't want to talk about. Some novice writers don't even do it. Their excuses might run like these: "My writing is good and I've spelled everything correctly so I don't need to revise." "I revise as I go along. When I'm done, I'm done." Can you say Ego Trip? Even Stephen King revises.

So, what exactly is revision? Read more at my blog: About Books, Writing, and More

Finding the Breaks in the Levee

2011-10-23T15:46:00.002-04:00

I’ve covered a lot of different topics so far this year. Recently, I’ve concentrated on other’s writings. Through it all, of course I expected you to continue working on your own scribbles.

Read more at my blog: http://swordsvspens.blogspot.com/2011/10/finding-breaks-in-levee.html

Revisions?

2011-10-22T00:45:00.000-04:00

Is there any consistency in my approach to revision and rewriting? Certainly! One thing has never, ever changed: every story I write has demanded its own unique approach to revision and rewriting, so I've learned not to worry if I can't do things the same way twice. (Continue reading on my journal.)

This isn't what I wrote!

2011-10-20T01:01:00.000-04:00

...Then another problem rose – I had real life. With writing I just did it whenever I got the flash going, but with editing, having half dead brain in the morning meant I made more mistakes than repaired them. So now I had to plan it ahead for times best suited. Here is where binding my manuscript came handy. With this I didn’t have to rely on my pc all the time and I could do it almost everywhere. Read more on my blog.

Revision!

2011-10-19T00:19:00.001-04:00

Revising fiction has always been tough for me. It still is, but here's how I'm dealing with it.

I love editing

2011-10-16T16:28:00.002-04:00

I love editing

No really, I do. I love being able to take a story and nudge it closer to what I first imagined. Many of you have seen my line -- the only story you can't fix is the one you never write. I truly believe that, though I'll concede that authors may have an occasional story that would take more time to fix than is worth the effort.

Or that can be a convenient excuse and some authors give up too easily.

I Got Your Revision Right Here...

2011-10-13T03:04:00.001-04:00

It’s interesting that this month’s Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour topic is about revisions. I just finished a monster revision / writing project in August. Excellent timing! Back in 2005 I wrote a novel called Broken Trails about two women who come together during the Last Great Race - the Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska. (Actually, the novel was untitled and remained so until about a year ago.) I love the Iditarod, and read everything I could get my hands on about it. Others enjoyed the online version, and I received a great deal of praising emails. But not everybody. See more at my website, In Shadows.

on revision

2011-10-11T11:43:00.001-04:00

I dread revision. Think of it this way: you spend several days with a manuscript you don't like all that much, read it, re-read it, cut it up, and try to patch it back together into something resembling sanity. It's time consuming, and painful. Revision is an activity I compare to first date dilemmas: What do I say? What do I do? Should I keep my hands in my pockets the whole time? What if she wants to pay? Read more on my blog...

The Joys of Revision

2011-10-10T12:40:00.000-04:00

First, my apologies for my late post on the Merry-Go-Round-Blog-Tour. The holiday weekend got away from me and I completely forgot that the 10th of the month was my day to write. Ack!

So here are my thoughts on revision.

It may make me an odd duck amongst my writing friends, but I absolutely love the revision process. (continue reading on the Once in a Blue Muse blog)

revision is writing

2011-10-05T08:51:00.002-04:00

I spent years trying to learn how to outline so my first drafts would be cleaner and I wouldn't have to spend so much time on revision. It took several complete disasters to make me realize that for me, revision is the writing process... Read the rest at Cowgirl in New England.

Necessity of Critique in Revision: Giving & Receiving

2011-10-04T11:27:00.000-04:00

What does critique have to do with revision? Take a look here.

Revising my opinion

2011-10-02T12:01:00.002-04:00

One thing I've learned over the past several years of writing is that the way I write doesn't stay the same, nor does the way I edit. Nor, fortunately, has my attitude about what I already know. Find out how everything has changed on my blog.

Genre Bending or Breaking?

2011-09-29T08:45:00.000-04:00

Walk into any bookstore and you'll find all of the latest books sorted into these perfect little categories. Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biography, Fantasy, Romance are all nicely printed in bold letters on placards scattered about the store. More and more frequently I have been seeing books that merge genres or in some cases encompass elements of so many that I can't quite place where they actually belong.

Read more on my blog...

Bending Genre Elements

2011-09-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

When I started writing in 2009 my aim was romance. Not that I didn’t enjoy reading other genres. I simply enjoyed romance more. Read more on The Literary Hub

Crossing Lines

2011-09-26T01:35:00.000-04:00

The topic of September is crossing genres on our Merry Go Round Blog Tour from Forward Motion. Such a good topic for me as I plan my next novel. A lot of the stories I write follow along the lines of the Young Adult, Realistic Fiction line. With this in mind, I started to think about books I read and have loved and one thing keeps repeating in my mind. Every author crosses the borders of genres.
Continue reading here...http://tiptoeingthroughmetaphors.blogspot.com/2011/09/crossing-lines.html

Twist It, Bend It, Tie It In A Bow...

2011-09-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

Genre bending is an interesting thing. Ever notice how some of the most popular movies all contain elements of action, drama, romance, comedy, and sometimes even fantasy or science fiction? Look at Harry Potter, for example. Continue reading at The Quadrant.

Fantasy or Science Fiction? Does it Really Matter?

2011-09-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

When I was growing up, one of my favorite authors was Andre Norton. During her 93 years of life, Ms. Norton wrote more than 130 books. I have read most of them and own copies of 30 or more, tucked away in boxes. I didn’t know until I was grown that Andre Norton was a women and that she took that pen name because when she started writing, science fiction readers were perceived as all males. Continue reading on my blog...

Break the Marketing Pocket until you’re selling – Genres

2011-09-23T08:15:00.000-04:00

Each of these has a specific connotation when attached to a book. When you tell others that you’re a writer, their first question is almost always “What do you write?” Our answer usually fills in with a label similar to those above. However, modern writing has started to defy the old classification model.

Read the rest at my blog: http://swordsvspens.blogspot.com/2011/09/break-marketing-pocket-until-youre.html

The unknown substance

2011-09-20T05:09:00.002-04:00

As it is not popular, more and more writers go without boundaries. Here at least. I’ve come across fellow craftsmen, who find it insulting if someone brings up that they would do better if they would add similar ingredients to their pot of plot which would give some familiarities to search them by. It “castrates” their creativity, they say, and write on genre-less books, not realizing that the editors will still try to fit it in some shelf next to genre books. One even compared it with paint-by-number picture.

Indeed, when writing inside genre, you are creating work by certain standards so the reader can get exactly what they wanted from the book. I would be very happy if it was indeed like painting by numbers, but I fear it’s more like Jan van Eyck oil painting, including grinding your own paints.

Genre-Crossing?

2011-09-19T00:19:00.002-04:00

I confess to being a little muddled at this month's Blog Tour topic. I've heard of gender crossing, and, certainly, cross-dressing. The term isn't used for women much, but I do a lot of cross dressing. Men's clothing has always been more durable -- both in construction and fashion. I've been tall with longer legs for most of my life, so the only way to get pants long enough or long sleeves that come below mid-forearm, I've had to purchase men's clothing. That works fine for casual clothing, but for dressier things, I've had more of a challenge. But you didn't come here to read about clothes shopping challenges. Continue reading on my blog.

Crossing Genre Lines

2011-09-16T04:10:00.001-04:00

I often hear things like 'genre is just a tool made up by marketing people.'

Yes, that's true. That does not make it bad, though. Imagine going into a store and wanting a new fantasy novel, only you have to search through every single shelf of fiction to find one. Or worse, searching through places like Amazon.com, book-by-book. So let's start by saying that genre distinctions are a great tool for readers.

But what about authors? Yes, they can help you define what you are going to write and let you know what certain expectations might be.

However, that doesn't mean you have to write to fit a genre. In fact, you shouldn't. You should write whatever suits you for the story you want to tell, and genre should be the last thing you consider. And if that means you write something that crosses genre lines, all the better. Genre designations are not meant to be walls.

topic bending and my plan for fighting terror

2011-09-11T12:35:00.002-04:00

I have a suggestion for the tenth anniversery of the 9/11 attacks: do something real. Turn off your computer, put your cell phone on silent, unplug yourself. Watch the wildlife at a local park, walk barefoot in your garden, close your eyes and just feel the wind blowing through your hair. What does this have to do with genre-bending? Umm...

Genre-Bending: When categories just don't fit

2011-09-10T17:32:00.002-04:00

For this month's Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour, we're talking about genre and what happens when writers ignore the boundaries of bookstore categories. Actually, I also want to talk about my experience as a reader and how genre can both inform and limit me in my search for something new and shiny to read. (Continue reading "Genre-Bending. . . )

it's all niche markets

2011-09-05T15:26:00.001-04:00

Lately I have, for no particular reason that I can think of, written several ghost stories. (Continue reading at Cowgirl in New England)

Isn't One Genre Per Story Enough?

2011-09-04T11:02:00.000-04:00

So what’s the deal with cross-genre fiction? Isn’t enough that we have a dozen genres to write, read or watch on TV?

Continue reading here: D.M.Bonanno.

Crossing the streams of genre

2011-09-02T11:38:00.001-04:00

Okay, crossing the streams is an obvious image to use when talking about crossing anything, especially with any kind of an SF/F background (or an ’80s movie background). But it’s a bad analogy, because crossing genres is a good thing, if done well. Continue reading on my blog…

The Overgenre-ing of Books

2011-09-01T10:03:00.001-04:00

When is a fantasy book not a fantasy book? When it's an epistolary young adult paranormal romance.

Bah!

Find out what I'm talking about over at AlexWorld.

The grass is greener...

2011-08-29T08:00:00.001-04:00

Ideas are like grass and I'm the cow. No, really!

There are so many things around me that cry out to be turned into stories that I never have only one project in process. I take one from here, another from over there and, oh look! There's a great one further that way! I call it my writer's ADD. My husband calls them my "Ooo! Shiny!" moments. Continue reading on my blog…

Vacation offers more than relaxation

2011-08-26T14:00:00.000-04:00

My husband and I spent 6 days in Indianapolis this last month. It was a glorious time! Good food, good fun, and good ideas. We spent those days at Gen Con, the convention for gamers of all types. People watching was abound! So, when asked where my newest ideas came from, my only answer is Gen Con.
View the rest of the story at: http://tiptoeingthroughmetaphors.blogspot.com/2011/08/vacation-offers-more-than-relaxation.html

Stop back tomorrow for another writer's idea factory details!

How Would You React?

2011-08-25T09:00:00.002-04:00

I’m currently focused on my novel Thirteen Covens. I probably shouldn’t admit this but as a life-long occultist I tend to deal with a lot of groups and people (and consequently their emo drama) and let me tell you – a lot of it is wonderful fodder for fiction... Continue reading on my blog.

A Tree Full of Ideas

2011-08-23T08:14:00.000-04:00

To this point, I’ve been offering insights like you already have an idea to write. Silly me, I forgot that this isn’t always the case. Though I will also note that you aren’t alone if you can’t sit down and just start writing -- that blank page intimidates people.

Continue Reading on my Blog: http://swordsvspens.blogspot.com/2011/08/tree-full-of-ideas.html

The Idea That Came Out of the Blue

2011-08-22T23:49:00.003-04:00

All right. So this month's topic on the blog tour is "Where You Got Your Latest Idea" . . . Cue a few moments of silence as I try to remember just what my latest story idea was. To be honest, I can't remember which idea is the latest since I simply have so many of them. I still know the inspiration for the story I'm currently working on, though. It all came when Lily--the girl I nearly dated in high school--asked me to write some sort of "what if" (or perhaps "could have been") story about a romance between characters based upon me and her. (So how did it go, then?)

Where book about tattoos meets Dalai Lama’s speech

2011-08-19T19:13:00.003-04:00

This was sparked by tattoo art book I saw in the library, sitting on the shelf, which I wasn't suppose to touch. I was there to study after all. But the wonderful sleeve tattoo on front cover wouldn't leave me be and after I saw this guy in perfect suit walk by, with "it must feel good to be so clean and smell like linen closet" echoing through my scull I reached my hand for pen and paper. Then I put it aside. Read more on my blog.

Where I Got My (Not So) Latest Idea

2011-08-19T00:19:00.002-04:00

Today's post is pretty messy. I walk you through the much and the slime of how the pieces of litter I collect at various points of life come together to form an idea that may or may not produce a book. I confess, today's idea is still on the compost pile, but I think it will spawn something useful eventually, so I'm sharing it with you. Don't worry. It's not smelly, and you don't need your hip waders to get through it. Feel free to remain on the catwalk and watch from afar -- or jump into the muck with me and brainstorm where it might wind up. I have fifty thousand words written on this, but I can throw them all out and start again if I get the right combination of stuff. Check it out here -- if you dare:
http://polarbear60.org/randr/2011/08/19/latest-idea/

Where I got my latest idea

2011-08-16T02:08:00.000-04:00

Without thinking about this month's question, I had already posted a bit about my current idea. I'm doing a series of reports on how this particular story grows (or story setting -- I think I see far more than a single piece for this one). You can find it here. You can, in fact, see all the posts for the Water/Stone/Light project by clicking on the label in the right hand column.

Since the new project is so well documented already, I'm going to look at a couple older pieces and where those ideas came from.

How do I get ideas? How do writers not get ideas? They're everywhere.

Read More

This Idea is Oooooold....

2011-08-13T03:31:00.003-04:00

The Sanguire trilogy is written! YAY! Broken Trails should be out by the end of the year! YAY! My vacation starts today - fifteen days of pure nothing to do but putter around the house and cuddle my wife! YAY!

Now what?

(insert photo of writer deflating here)

Continue reading at In Shadows

on the making of ideas

2011-08-11T12:35:00.002-04:00

Which of my latest ideas do you want to hear about? I have more than I'm comfortable with. Sadly, I can't remember where I get all of my ideas from. I don't remember the exact place or time when I came up with either "Dueling Bards" or "Emerald Orbs", though they are rather loosely tied together by theme. I do recall two of the direct influences that led to my character Jules, who is the main character in "Dueling Bards". Read more on my blog...

Ideas are everywhere

2011-08-10T18:44:00.000-04:00

This month's merry-go-round-blog-tour topic is where our ideas come from. I've blogged before about where I found my latest idea here: three random images combined to turn into a story idea. In this story's case it was a girl who hated having her photo taken, an abandoned amusement park, and a murdered boy that have coalesced around a YA project that is part ghost story part murder mystery. So far, I have nearly a dozen pages of hand written notes and a few trial scenes to explore my protagonist's voice. [keep reading this entry]

The Highwayman Came Riding . . .

2011-08-08T01:46:00.001-04:00

My last idea came from the daily writing I’ve been doing and some musical inspiration. As I was writing about nothing and complaining about being bored, I was also listening to music. One of the songs that came on was Loreena McKennitt’s stunning musical rendition of Tennyson’s poem, “The Highwayman.” Continue reading at my blog.

more than an idea

2011-08-05T21:36:00.001-04:00

I seldom get "an" idea. I have ideas. Multitudes of them, all shoved into the same pile to ferment, ripen, simmer, rot, compost -- any metaphor will do. They bump into each other and eventually start to cling to each other in interesting and improbable ways. (More at Cowgirl in New England.)

Ow, That Hurt! An Assault From My Muse

2011-08-04T09:59:00.000-04:00

I’m one of those writers who finds herself assaulted by ideas. Sometimes they’re good, like an interesting title or a phrase that just sparkles. Dreams offer visual ideas, as does television and playing with my children. I frequently use writing prompts because they are like a puzzle and it’s a joy to makes sense of elements that aren’t apparently connected. Continue reading here.

~ D.M. Bonanno

Catching plot bunnies ...

2011-08-02T08:30:00.002-04:00

As I’ve mentioned before, I often have more than one project in progress, so I had to decide which one to use for this post — I’m going to talk about Touching Time, my Mayan novel. In my freelance work, I do a lot of proofreading of travel books. This often gives me little baby plot bunnies that I stuff into a hutch in my brain to see if they grow into anything. Continue reading on my blog . . .

What About Lily? Where I Got My Latest Idea

2011-08-01T18:20:00.000-04:00

When I read, especially when I read books I love over and over, I become increasingly interested in the stories of the characters who've been mentioned only once or twice but whose lives are radically changed by the protagonist's actions.

To kick of this month's tour with the topic of Where I got my latest idea, I ask how Alice's playing the game in Alice's Adventures Through the Looking Glass affected the pawn she replaced, the Princess Lily - and in answering my question I discovered I had a book waiting to get written.

Check it out over on my blog AlexWorld.

Merry-Go-Round Books for July

2011-07-31T15:01:00.002-04:00

What a better way to relax than with a good book!

This month, three of our authors have books available for your reading pleasure - check them out and don't forget to tell your friends out the blog and the books.

Ada Nish Pura by Lazette Gifford

Injured and alone, the only survivor of a treacherous attack on a starship takes refuge on Kailani -- a world with little land and where many are genetically adapted to living in the sea. Caught between a ruthless enemy hunting for him and the mistrust of the locals for outsiders, Marcus learns the truth about honor.

You can get copy of this science fiction novel from Smashwords.

Quarter Square by David Bridger

English carpenter Joe Walker thinks his life is over when he discovers his wife and best friend having an affair. Restoring an abandoned theatre offers little hope for a fresh start...until he follows a group of strangers through a hidden door into a world he never could have imagined.

In the haven known as Quarter Square, Joe encounters a community of supernatural street performers who straddle the mortal world and the magic realm known as the Wild. Here, Joe finds a sense of belonging he's never known before—and a chance to uncover the truth behind the frightening visions that have haunted him since childhood. He also meets Min, an enchanting singer who quickly captures his heart.

But as Joe settles into Quarter Square, he learns their haven is under attack, while an ancient enemy threatens to tear him and Min apart. Now, Joe must learn to wield his own powers in order to save the life he's come to love...

You can pick up this popular paranormal romance from the Carina Press website.

An Extraordinarily Ordinary Life by Alex F. Fayle

Usually Fairy Godmothers help out lost princesses, girls forced into family slavery, and wooden puppets wanting to be real boys. Gail McCain, however, is none of these things. She's just a normal 18-year-old girl who likes to get up, go to work, eat sensibly and go to bed early. Okay, so maybe she's not that normal.

Enter Amanda, a fairy life-coach (godmothers are so last millennium) who informs her new client that she's cursed to be boring--and it's the fairy's job to get Gail a life. Skeptical at first, Gail quickly adapts when she gets some new friends and even a boyfriend.

But Amanda's not done with her yet, insisting that the curse needs something powerful to break it. She makes Gail a famous celebrity blogger, tossing scandals, love triangles and bitchy starlets in her path. But can a teenager whose idea of excitement is her egg-one-a-week Sunday breakfast survive all this excitement?

Download your copy of this YA paranormal romance from Amazon (also available on Smashwords).

What books are on my nightstand?

2011-07-26T01:36:00.001-04:00

A question proposed by the Forward Motion Writing community Merry-Go-Round Blog tour for the month of July: what books are on your nightstand. Like many others, I do not have a nightstand. My bedroom is just too small. However, I have a 4" tall bookshelf in my living room that I call "To be read". As I sit here and write tonight, I see this shelf packed full of all the books I want to read. Each one seems like it should be next. The decisions are tough at the end of each book.

Read the rest at my blog...

The Growing Stack on the Headboard

2011-07-25T02:45:00.005-04:00

While most of the fiction I read is on my kindle (and it often goes where I go) for whatever reason there’s always a collection of paperbacks sitting on the headboard, too. I generally read a few books at a time unless I’m working hard and heavy on a revision. While I’m initially writing I can read just about anything. Continue reading on my blog...

Different take on the Nightstand

2011-07-23T08:29:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, a freaky dream will catch us by surprise. These dreams might offer sparks toward a present work in progress, or they might offer an idea for a new work. Either way, we want to save what our unconscious threw out for processing.

Continue readng on my blog ...