Life on This Side of Publication: Part Two- To Publication and Beyond!

Last week I shared my experience in query land. Today, I’ll continue with life ‘after publication’…the reality.

Yep, reality, sounds funny, right? 

Think about it, you’ve spent months, even years, living in ‘fantasy land’, then emerge from your writing cocoon in search of an agent or publisher. You’ve either signed a contract or decided to self-publish.  Your book is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as an eBook or paperback. You’ve tweeted it, shared it, posted, and hyped it up. Anticipation has been growing and your future fans are lining up with dollars in hand for the big release day. Now all you do is sit back, relax, tell your friends and family they are  now looking at a published author, and watch the money roll in. Right?

WRONG!

This, my friends, is where the REAL WORK BEGINS! Yep, I said it! W-O-R-K!!!

Did I fail to mention a lack of sleep????

Sorry, I jumped ahead of myself again. Let’s back it up a bit….

Amazon Rank for October 4, 2012 - #16 Multicultural Romance  (Peaked at #4)  and #41 in African-American Literature & Fiction (Peaked at #17) - Paid Books #3181 (Peaked at #1717)

First, there are the days leading up to the big release. The contract has been signed, the publication date announced, and editor assigned. Your version of the final manuscript has been submitted and now you wait for the edits to start rolling in. A dead line is given. Then you’re off to the races! What happens next?

First you deal with your editor, your new best friend and avid supporter because they are now invested in the project as much as you are. You accept or reject suggested changes, they make sure the storyline is consistent, all the facts have been checked, and the character’s names have not changed. Once you both are satisfied with the results (and let’s face it, you’re a professional now and a deadline is a deadline!) the manuscript is next sent to the line-editor. Their job it is to check everything again…line-by-line, every period, comma, hyphen, exclamation point…yep, all the extremely technical stuff that you and your editor didn't see. And believe me people, regardless of what level of publication you’re at, whether it’s self-pub and you hire an editor, e-pub and you’re working with editors, or even one of the Big Six-traditionally pubbed where thr is a team of editors...there WILL  be errors that make it into the work, regardless of how many eyes look at it…it’s called human imperfection! (I have read three Nora Robert’s new releases this year, all hardback, and every one of them had errors, be it technical, or even storyline, or   what character’s POV we were supposed to be in, and again, this is in books from a TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED BESTSELLING AUTHOR!)

Once your book has been sent through the ringer, you now have the final read, your last chance to (hopefully!) find any errors and point them out. Final changes are made, then it’s off to publication!

Now what?

You now must figure out how to promote your work. Unless you have a Nora Roberts budget and backing from the Big Boys, it’s up to you to push your book. Blog tours, promos on Facebook , Twitter, Google+, websites…the list goes on and on. In the end, you get what you put in. The more work you do, the better the results. The less work you do…you got it, no results. The truth of the matter is, you can sit at your computer and talk about, copy/past, share, and tweet all day long, but in the end it’s up to the readers to choose your work. Just because you promoted in twenty spots does not me your going to get at least twenty sales for the day.  

So what do you do?

 Me and my manager, Lady Kayne of  Major Movement Inc.,  at my first official meet/greet as a published  author! 

You keep talking about it, keep promoting, and sell not just your work, but yourself as well.

But that’s not all! In the mist of promoting, you now must continue to write…because hey, one book wasn’t all you planed on publishing, right? Whether you’re writing a series, like I am, or you’re selling standalone novels…writing, plotting, and planning the next story doesn’t stop. If anything, your new readers will be craving more of you work!

Congratulations! You are now a published author with fans!!! And fans need to be sated!

Good luck with finding a happy balance between being an author, promoter, wife/father, and parent… and if you have a nine-to-five job, you’ve got to work to pay your bills, and manage all of this wonderful stuff in between!!!

But guess what, after all the headache, the sleepless nights as you struggle to keep your sales rankings up on Amazon, religiously check your ranking every hour upon the hour, even at two A.M….it’s all worth it in the 

end! 

MJ

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A HEART NOT EASILY BROKEN: The Blog Tour is over, but the contest lives on...for the next few days!

That's right! The tour is over, but the contest still has a few more days. In order to win an AUTOGRAPHED COPY of A HEART NOT EASILY BROKEN, you must follow the guidelines and live within the United States. Visit this post for the contest details. The contest ends on October 3rd. The winner will be announced on my blog and contacted via email on October 5th. Good luck everyone!

And now  I must shout out all of the wonderful authors and bloggers who helped me put together my first blog tour....without you guys, my first release would not have seen the success it has!

Much love and thank you goes to:
Carolyn Arnold
Donna McBroom-Theroit
Debbie Brown
Candace Shaw
Delaney Diamond
Sharon C. Cooper
Manuscript Proofing
Carmen DeSousa
Chicki Brown

Thanks also goes to these wonderful bloggers/blog sites:
sjreisner.com
Warrior Princess Romance Writer
My Writing Journey
Chicks Who Love to Read
onevintageheart.com

Now for the tour highlights!

September 20th saw the release of my debut novel. Within hours it broke into the Amazon Multicultural Romance Bestseller list and has been moving up and down the chart ever since. It feels good being in the top 100 as an unknown! At last check, it had broke onto the first page at #19! (The numbers change hourly, but who cares! It's the fact that it got that far that counts!)

On September 28th, it broke into the Literature & Fiction>United States>African American Bestseller list and at last check, topped out at #48! (again, the numbers change hourly)

I also earned the Celebrating Authors All-Star status from CelebratingAuthors.blogspot.ca for the having one of the most read author features! My book cover and the link to the post are listed on the side bar of the site. That is so cool!

Within three days of it's release, I received my first official review from an enthusiastic reader who messaged me on Facebook and told me she'd be staying up until midnight to purchase the book, and let me know the next day that she was reading. By Sunday she was through and shouting our her praises in my first ever book review. It received a whopping 5 Stars! My favorite part:

“Chapter one till the end you will find this novel a captivating excellent read. How this author was able to do this was simply a work of art.”-Goodreads Review

My eyes water every time I read that. Suddenly, four years to reach this point doesn't feel like it was that long!

(I will be posting a new page with snippets of reviews soon. Look for the page at the top of the screen.)

In the last couple of days I have received emails and direct messages from authors wanting to know what I did to reach bestseller on day one. Honestly, I don't know. I've worked, planned, asked for and received help from authors with more experience than I have and followed the advice and direction of my team. And work, lots of hard work, tears, many pots of coffee, lots of candy bars, and untold hours of missed sleep.

Sounds like a lot of fun, right? Oh yeah, but believe me, there were times I seriously wondered (especially when I was crying) why on earth I even attempting to be published in the first place. What was wrong with just reading someone else stories? No stress, no headaches, and the only reason I'd miss sleep would be because I was too wrapped up in their tales. But then one of my characters would hold out a hand, help me back up, and encourage me to keep going. My family continued to tell me they believed in me, and then I knew I would not be able to give up because if I did, I not only would be letting myself down, they would be let down too.

Now every time they look at me, they smile, which means I'm smiling too!

So, what's next?

More work of course!!! Now is time to find a new balance in my life. Along with being a mom and wife, I can officially add published author to my many titles. I am also now an official director of my local writer's group held at, where else, my local library! Then there is learning how to balance promoting my book with editing the next one. Keeping up fresh blog content and continuing to promote and support my fellow authors at 5 Prince Publishing along with the numerous other authors I become friends with along the way. I swear, I have learned so much in the last four years that one day, I am going to write a book about it.......hmm, not a bad idea!

Anyways, stay tuned folks, strap on your seat belt and get ready for the ride! Until the next time! WRITE WELL!!!

MJ

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Announcing the Blog Tour for A Heart Not Easily Broken!

Looking for Free Kindle Apps? Click here! 

I am proud to announce the official blog tour to celebrate the release of my debut novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken!!!

Starting the day of the eBook release, September 20, 2012, there will be numerous interviews over various blog sites on the web. The tour will end September 28^th, 2012. Follow the tour to learn about me, how I started writing, why I write, the creation of the characters and the Butterfly Memoirs series! Along the way there will be character interviews, deleted scenes, and sneak peeks into the novel itself!

But wait, there's more!

I will also be holding my FIRST CONTEST!!!  And who doesn’t love a contest!

In appreciation for all of the support I’ve received during my writing journey, I want say thank you for the encouraging comments and feedback! As a bonus for taking the time to visit these blogs - and showing the blog host some love - I will be giving away an AUTOGRAPHED COPY of the paperback version of A Heart Not Easily Broken!

That’s right! For all of you who still love the smell of a paperback book, feeling the weight of it in your hand, and having it displayed on your book shelf, someone is going to win one!

(But if you can't wait until October 4th to get that paper back, download a FREE KINDLE APP and grab your eBook copy today!!!!)

The contest rules and directions will be posted on both this site as well as the home for The Butterfly Memoirs Series. I will be shouting out reminders daily as well has posting all the host links so that if you miss a day you will still be able to catch up!

By the way, if you don’t have an eReader and would like to purchase the book the day it releases in eBook format, don’t fear!!! Did you know that you can download FREE KINDLE APPS for your laptop, iPad, Tablet, and Smartphones? There's even one that allows you to read on your browser! And they are all FREE!! Follow this link and find out how you can get one of these free applications, then got to Amazon and purchase the novel! (On release day, Septmeber 20th!)  I promise you’ll be glad you did!

Until later, Happy Reading!

MJ

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The Fabulous Blog Ribbon Award

Over the last week, I had the privilege to receive this wonderful award from two different authors/bloggers, Debbie Brown and Carmen DeSousa. Thank you ladies for thinking about me! Thankfully I can follow the rules of this award with one post!

So here it goes!

Five of My Most Fabulous Moments:

5: The day I graduated high school! Man, was I ready to get out of there! Then again, who wasn't???

4: The day my husband proposed at a mutual friends wedding. We had only dated a few months and were still in high school. He was a little tipsy so as flattered as I was, I thought he was kidding. He clarified his intentions the next day, fully sober, and proved it shortly after graduation by presenting a ring and asking me again. We celebrated our 18th anniversary on Monday! 

3: The birth of our first son, who will be graduating high school next year! It was also a blessing to watch him preform with the Alliance Theater Youth Orchestra along side Broadway actors in the play, Into The Woods, during it's two month run. That memory will forever be priceless! 

2: The birth of all of my children. My youngest in particular. I'd planed have no more kids, but she slipped in ( lol) and has stolen all of our hearts. 

1. Receiving the email that stated I had an offer for my series, The Butterfly Memoirs, from 5 Prince Publishing. Momma has now found herself...AGAIN! 

Five Things I Love:

5: Sitting on the bank of a river watching the gentle water role by. So peaceful!

4: Getting buried in a good book. There's nothing like getting  caught up in the characters and forgetting the need for sleep!

3: Creating my own characters. Finding their passions, and telling their stories is a gift I appreciate having. It's amazing how much of a stress reliever writing can be! 

2. Driving down the street with the windows down and my favorite song on the radio. It's so much fun to dance and sing, and then look around and my kids have ducked down from embarrassment. Cracks me up every time. 

1. My family. Watching my husband, kids, cousin, and dogs interact and realizing just how wonderful life can be and how blessed I am to have them. Even when times get tough, we're still here for one another and in the end, that's all that matters. 

Five Things I Hate:

5. Paying bills. Some days I look at those dreaded sheets of paper and think times like those represented in the TV show, Falling Skies, would be a welcome relief instead of paying a $300.00 electric bill. But then there would be no internet...so guess who's paying the bill?

4. Window shopping. Seriously, it sucks! I'd rather see it when I know I can afford it? Why subject myself to such torture???? Okay, fine, it always helps to plan, but still...it hurts to walk away....lol.

3. Poverty. With so many shows on television about super sized food and food eating contest, why should people down the street from these taping have to starve? Who cares how much your stomach can hold, what about the family who could use that over stuffed plate and feed themselves for two days????

2. Injustice. Why do rapist, thieves, and murderers seem to get away with their crimes, yet someone who's licence was unknowingly suspended has to spend the night in jail, bond out, and then pay a fine? Does this make any sense???

1. Racism. We're all human. We all have the same genitic make up. Does the person lying on their deathbed  really care where the heart needed for the transplant comes from? Do they question the doctor before going under anistisia as to the race of the unwilling doner? What about blood transfusions? Who cares what the skin tone was of the source. Why? Because underneath the pigmant, WE'RE ALL THE SAME!

My Five Favorite Books: 

In no certain order:

Lover Eternal- J.R. Ward

The Black Hills- Nora Roberts

The entire Stephanie Plumb series- Janet Evanovich

The entire Trouble Shooters series- Suzanne Brockmann

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy- J.R.R. Tolkien

Now to pass it on to 5 other unsuspecting bloggers! 

Zee Monodee

Candace Shaw

Donna McBroom-Theroit

Delaney Diamond

Chicki Brown

MJ

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I AM GETTING PUBLISHED!

Guess who’s joined the title of “published” author!

I am proud to announce that the The Butterfly Memoirs series has found a publishing home!

5 Prince Publishing has signed the entire six-book project! The tentative publishing date for book one, A Heart Not Easily Broken, is this fall! 

So what happens next?

Remember when I spoke about edits, edits, and more edits on previous blog posts? If you follow me on Twitter, or are a friend on Facebook, you know I have already edited this book several times. The fun does not stop here, though. Now it is time for revisions.

5 Prince Publishing has paired me with an editor who is as enthusiastic about this project as I am. What a blessing! I am sure together we will get an even better product ready for our readers.

As I write this blog, I realize I am referring to my manuscript as 'the project' and 'the product'.

Is it because I no longer see A Heart Not Easily Broken as a story, my sweat and tears for the last three years?

Yes and no.

No matter where my writing career takes me, this will forever be a story that is near and dear to my heart. I have learned so much about writing due to this manuscript. For the past three years, it has seen numerous re-writes. I have scraped, pulled out, brushed off, and revised repeatedly. Names have changed, desires have evolved, until finally, I found something that worked. This is a story I could not avoid telling, period.

If there is one piece of advice I can share with other authors who are working to see their writing dreams fulfilled, it would be this: never allow anyone to tell you how to tell your story. Do not believe there is only one style of writing that best suits your genre.

There is one thing I learned from the experience, thanks to family and friends:

Querying, while time consuming, dreaded, and a test of one's patience and perseverance, is another way to perfect your craft.

YES, rejections are a way to perfect and hone your craft.

Receiving a response from an agent or publisher in your email always makes your hands tremble and heart race. Do they like it? Is this 'the' offer? Opening to the words: 'Thank you for your allowing us to read your project, but it's not what we're looking for', or simply, 'No thank you,' (I had to laugh at that one!), can often hurt. Every now and then, an agent or publisher will take a moment of their precious time and share a little bit of information as to why they aren’t interested. Once your tears dry up and you find that second layer of tough skin, go back and actually read what they said.

Are they giving clues as to what steps, or changes, you can make to put your project closer to what they are looking for? Could making those changes result in drawing interest in the future from the next agent or publisher you query and eventually the most important person—the reader? Will those suggestions change your writing voice or story to the point you feel your writing voice is lost? Are they basing their suggestions on personal tastes or their expertise of publishing? Would making those changes hurt or tighten your prose? 

Following through, making the necessary adjustments, will perfect your craft. Think of it as a way to get 'free' editing advice from a professional. That way if you decide to self-publish, you will have already taken steps to perfect your product. 

Here are words that inspired me, my mantra, if you will:

"Sometimes you gotta break the rules and stand apart. Ignore your head and follow your heart" -Anonymous

I ran across this quote one day when I was struggling to figure out how to take my characters on their journey. At first, I thought the words fit my heroine, Ebony Campbell, best since her story revolves around an interracial romance. Her decision to ignore the color of her, and her love interest, Brian Young’s skin, allows her to let love into her life.

Before long, I realized those words also held meaning for me. Learning the rules of writing in your genre does not always mean you have to follow them to the letter. Developing your writing style and voice comes from taking the basics and twisting them ever so slightly to make your work stand apart.  I have done that and cannot wait to hear feedback from readers to tell me what they think.

Now as far as my 'project' is concerned...

My focus now is to find my business muse and prepare to work with my editor on revising the story. It is time to set emotions aside and clear my mind so this process can run smooth. Easier said than done, I know…

Now it's time for marketing, making new friends, expanding my social network reach beyond Twitter and Facebook. Now the real work begins! And to think, three years ago, I thought learning how to write was work. That was gravy! Now that I have a publisher behind me, continuing to see success is up to me.

In the coming months, I will continue to share helpful writing tips because hey, writers never stop learning. I will also share my continued journey to publication and beyond; after all, the title of this blog is...

This Writer's Life!

MJ Kane, soon-to-be published author! 

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How Important Is Your Book Cover?

"Never judge a book by its cover."

I heard the saying a lot while growing up. Most of the time it dealt with making assumptions when meeting new people .

As an author, those words take on a literal meaning.

Covers can make or break a sale. This is true in two respects. Either it will draw a reader in, or it will turn them away. Yes, you read correctly, turn them away. But the reason may not be because the story does not draw their interest. Let me explain.

The cover, in conjunction with the title, needs to capture readers attention. It should tell a story, give the reader a hint of what lies between its pages. A critical moment from the book can be depicted, a featured character highlighted, or elements incorporated in the background can hold a metaphorical or symbolic meaning of the character(s), plot, or setting.

All genres require different types of covers. Action/Adventure tends to have characters on the run or escaping a life threatening situation. Sci-Fi shows different worlds, creatures, or spacecraft. Drama/Mystery feature crime scene images, and Romance/Erotica feature couples in various states of undress and physical contact.

The genres I write in are Contemporary Romance, Interracial Romance, and Women's Fiction. I'll be the first to admit a great set of abs, sexy smile, and mesmerizing eyes catch my attention, but what does it tell me about the book? Does a half naked body tell me about the issues the characters are going to face? Is the picture selling the story or sex? 

Anyone who picks up a romance novel is aware sex is involved. Depending on the sub-genre, there are various levels of 'heat'. Is it a sweet romance? Is it hot? Are the love scenes depicted going to be erotic?

Regardless of the way the scene is written in the novel, do I need to have it depicted on the cover?

No.

I don't want to feel the need to 'hide' the book when it's not in my hands and worry my 11-year-old son or 10-year-old daughter will stumble across it and freak out. (Not making this up. They get grossed out from a set of abs featured in a cologne commercial or a couple sharing a brief kiss in a Disney movie!) Nor should I feel bad about encouraging my teenage kids to read for educational purposes and entertainment if the book in my hand gives the impression I'm reading about sex.

Let me make this point clear, because it's one that always needs to be talked about: not all Romance novels are about sex, regardless of the heat levels (sweet, spicy, or erotic). For years, I avoided reading the genre because that notion I had. It wasn't until I took a chance and read one that I discovered some stories, (depending on the sub-genre), have heart, teach life lessons about finding love, friendship, dealing with loss...all of these concepts woven within the story. The act itself was nothing but a backdrop, a part of the character/stories progression. Sex is a part of life. How can you accurately depict life and not address the subject...unless your character is a monk, saint, of a virgin. The difference is how much detail or focus the author chooses to put into the novel.

Okay, sorry, I digressed...back to the point at hand, sex depicted on covers.

I'd like to share with you a few covers of romance novels I've read over the past year which did not feature half naked couples on the front, yet told a very compelling story, while delivering a satisfactory level of heat at the appropriate time. (Click on the picture or links to learn more about them.)

Candy Kisses, by Bernadette Marie.

Who doesn't love chocolate? The name says it all. It's a sweet romance novella with a story that's entertaining and scenes that are surprisingly hot. I can leave this lying around and not feel ashamed. Contemporary Romance

Land of the Noonday Sun, by Carmen DeSousa 

The cover depicts a scene from the novel. A fully clothed couple enjoying nature and each other's company...and nobody's naked! Notice the eyes peering out of the background? An ominous sign that danger lurks beneath the romance. Nice scenes here too. Romantic Suspense

Looking For Trouble, by Erin Kern                                                      

This cover has clothed people on it, nobody's in a state of undressing, but they're obviously attracted to each other. The background depicts the Texas backdrop to the story. And yes, hot scenes lie within a great and funny story. Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance

Now, even though I haven't read this novel, and just recently read the feedback, both good and bad, I must say I love the covers. In fact, curiosity about what the items represented is what had me research the book on Amazon to read the blurb and ask others what it was about. Though the subject matter is not for me, and regardless of the writing, the covers are amazing! What if the covers had depicted 'acts' addressed in the book? How many people who were surprised - and not in a good way - would have rushed out to buy them? That would have been a turn off and embarrassed those who wouldn't want anyone to know what they were reading. If you haven't heard about the series, you wouldn't know. Personally, I thought the book was a mystery/suspense/thriller based on the covers. That was until I began to ask questions.

Now, here's the cover of my first novel, A Heart Not Easily Broken, the first in The Butterfly Memoirs Series.(currently in query mode) It is a Contemporary Romance, Interracial Romance, and has Women's Fiction elements. There are some very hot love scenes, but sex is not the focus of the story. Evolution of the characters, life lessons, finding love where you least expect it, and friendship are the focus. A couple embracing or in various states of dress would not be the correct cover. The story is thought provoking, questioning, and address problems many women deal with secretly. Placing a half-naked couple on the front would be a misrepresentation and take away from the story.

I decided to go with symbolism. The guitar represents Brian Young, a bass guitarist, who is passionate about his music career. The butterfly is Ebony Campbell who is at a crossroad in her life, both personally and professionally. Life altering events force her to make decisions she never dreamed of and forces both characters to evolve by the end of the novel. The guitar also represents what brought them together the night they meet and is also a catalyst to other events. Blue is the color of Brian's eyes, the one thing grounding Ebony during her life trial. The black and white elements...it's an interracial romance.

So, what do you guys think? I'd love to hear your feedback.

If your interested in having a custom cover done for your novel, contact JayJerkin Productions. He can be found on Twitter and Facebook or here is his Email. He does amazing work!

MJ

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The Lucky 7 MEME Award- Yay!

Today my blog was nominated for the Lucky 7 MEME award by my dear friend and fellow author, Sharon Cooper. Thank you so much for thinking of me, and congratulations on your new book coming out this month, Something New. Be sure to stop by her blog and take a sneak peak at the excerpt !

 So, here are the rules to this award:

·         Go to page 77 of your manuscript (or any part of your written work)

·         Go to line 7

·         Copy the next 7 lines, sentences, or paragraphs into your post

·         Give the award to 7 more writers and let them know!

So, I happily give the honors to the following authors/bloggers:

Debbie Brown: amethyesteyesauthor.com

Zee Monodee: ZeeMonodee- Author's Corner

Darin Calhoun: DarinCalhoune.com 

Stacy Green: stacygreenauthor.com

Abigail Tinuviel: Worlds Before the Door

Donna McBroom-Theriot: My Life. One Story at a Time

Kirkus MacGowen: Diapers, Bookmarks, and Pipe Dreams

Well, first comes the fun part, sharing an excerpt of the story. A Heart Not Easily Broken is currently in the querying stage.  If you haven't read the first chapter, stop by and check it out to familiarize yourself with the main characters, Ebony Campbell and Brian Young. 

Now, on to page 77, line 7, and the next seven paragraphs. Enjoy! 

A day spent with no strings, no commitment, no expectations, and no sex. Just two adults enjoying each other’s company in a public setting. After all, in order to become friends, you needed to spend time together.

He’d be there. I’d show up. That’s it.

I headed upstairs, grabbed my phone, and sent him a text message. Deciding what to wear should not have been hard, yet I found myself unable to decide on shorts or jeans. I didn’t want to wear the same thing twice.

Five minutes passed with no reply. Could he have changed his mind about going? Or worse, found someone else willing to jump at the opportunity to spend the evening with him? Maybe I shouldn’t have waited to decide.

I grabbed my phone and flopped onto the bed unable to ignore the pain of disappointment. I was about to send a message to cancel when my phone chimed.

glad u changed ur mind. c u there.

An unexpected feeling of warmth spread through me from head to toe.

Thank god Ebony was at a decision making point in the story and not in the middle of some random thought! Her decision leads to the novel's first kiss, which is told from Brian's POV. To read a snippet of that scene, visit this blog post on fellow author, Carmen DeSousa's, blog post, Ah, the first kiss, is there anything better, and you'll find it and other great first-kiss scenes! 

 For more information about A Heart Not Easily Broken and The Butterfly Memoirs, visit the Butterfly Blog and follow on Twitter. 


As always, thanks for stopping by! 

MJ

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Character Descriptions - Creating a Picture With Words

Fat? Skinny? Tall or Short? What category does your character fit in?

Some of us have over-active imaginations which allow us to 'see' what a character looks like. Translating that picture in our heads to paper should be easy, right? Not always. What about when you have several characters floating in and out of scenes throughout the manuscript?

 How do you hammer out each description while ensuring none of them are alike? It takes planning, plain and simple.

One of my favorite things to do is have a working picture chart for each major and minor character for quick reference. I got this idea from a critique partner and I will never write without one again. My favorite place to look for character references are on the Internet, movies, and television. When developing a new character, I already have an idea of their physical attributes, the sound of their voice, and the way their body moves. Finding a picture I can study makes a world of difference when writing a full character description. If you only go by what you imagine, there will be things missing, such as, subtle quirks like the way a character stands, a twitch of the mouth, or that hidden mole. Your eye may not notice at first glance, but after studying a photo, you can add an extra layer of 'life' to the character.

Let me demonstrate.

In A Heart Not Easily Broken, there is a chapter where Ebony Campbell, the heroine, has the opportunity to study her future love interest, Brian Young, from a distance. He's standing in her back yard trimming the grass along the fences edge with a weed whacker and not wearing a shirt.

Here's the way that scene was written without having a visual reference to refer too (rough draft):

          Brian stood with his weed whacker, swinging it along side the fence. My eyes widened; the man was shirtless. The man had an incredibly strong looking back. His shorts hung off his hips and made his underwear visible, while a damp shirt hung from his belt buckle. Hmm, boxers or briefs? Sweat ran down his back to his shorts. 
          None of that compared to the way he looked when he turned around to one of the guys working with him. His body was free of body fat, with a little hair on his chest. Tight abs shown a ripple of muscles so tight I could barely see his belly button. 
          Brian's tanned skin reminded me of a Greek statue, he must work outside a lot. His baseball cap was turned backward, hiding the blond curly hair I'd seen at the club. His damp hair hung below its edge, showing off his square facial structure and the angle of his nose. His blue eyes were bright.
          Brian was unbelievably sexy.

Could you visualize what Ebony sees? I'm sure you were able to get a decent idea. Brian's working outside, he's sweating, it's hot, and Ebony's attracted to him. But how about the version found in the book? (after a  picture reference, a thesaurus, a multitude of edits, rewrites, and an over active imagination!) This is what I finished with:

           Brian stood with his weed whacker, swinging it in a controlled arch along the fence. My eyes widened; the man was shirtless. The man had an incredibly strong looking back. His shorts hung loosely from his hips, exposing the top of his underwear from the weight of the sweat-stained shirt stuffed under his belt. Hmm, boxers or briefs? Sweat ran in heavy rivets down his shoulder blades, trickling to the already damp shorts. 
          None of that compared to the way he looked when he turned around to speak to one of the guys working with him. His long torso, free of unwanted body fat, sported a light sprinkling of blond hair between his pecks. A tight abdomen showed every cut of muscle I’d seen in high school biology textbooks. His abs were tight, his belly button nearly nonexistent. 
          Brian’s bronzed skin reminded me of a Greek statue, a testament of many hours spent working outside. His backward baseball cap hid the thick blond curls I’d seen at the club. The damp ringlets hung below its rim, accentuating his square facial structure and the shape of his nose. His blue eyes seemed to glow from deep within his skin. 
         Brian was unbelievably sexy.


Visual descriptive, right? Both had the same idea, but the second one took the time to describe every single detail Ebony saw. Because of this, the reader is guaranteed to feel one of two things, 'wow, it's hot, he's sweaty, and could use a shower', or since your deep in Ebony's POV, your right a long with her thinking the sight of a hard working man tunes her on!

Perfect character descriptions do not usually appear while writing your rough draft. A Heart Not Easily Broken had so many rewrites and drafts I stopped counting at number eight, and believe me, there were still a few after that. But with each scene, I forced myself to take the time to write the descriptions of the characters in as much detail as possible. It didn't matter who's POV the description came from.

Since my books are written in first POV, one of the first things I had to learn was how to have a person describe themselves without it sounding clinical.

Here's an example of Ebony describing herself physically when comparing herself to her best friend, Yasmine:

Not so creative writing (first draft):

          Yasmine's light colored skin, skinny body, long legs and small breast suited her personality. There were times I wished my body was like hers. It would make shopping for clothes easier. I had a body like my Nana did when she was my age. If I looked at her photo albums, I looked just like her . We both had brown skin, shapely hips, big butts, and large breast. 

Oh man was THAT boring!

Now, here is the book version:

          Yasmine’s high-yellow complexion, slender ballet dancer body, long legs, and B-cups breasts suited her personality.  There were times I wished my body was more like hers, though. It would make shopping for clothes a lot easier. As it was, I had been blessed with the shapely figure my Nana called 'bootylicious'.  According to her, and her photo albums, I looked just like her when she was my age, with caramel-colored skin, perfectly proportioned hips, a butt that drew major attention, and D-cup breasts, making it hard for a man to look me straight in the eye.

So much better, and (if you are a lady!) can probably visualize yourself as either character, right?

A word of advice: when writing a characters description (especially if being done from first person POV), it's best to have them compare themselves to others, or stare into the mirror and describe what they do or don't like, as a suggestion. Having them say, "I have long hair, brown eyes, and dark skin," is not being creative. "My hair reached the top of my bra strap, my eyes were coals of molten like my mothers. I had her rich coco-colored skin, too," sounds much better. Okay, I threw that one together, but hopefully you get the point.

So, with visual aid (come on guys and gals, searching for that perfect pic can be fun!), lots of imagination, and the ever handy thesaurus, you can write descriptive scenes, too!

Until next time, WRITE WELL!!!!

MJ

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I'm Getting Published! (or My New Years Resolution!)

No, I’m not getting published…yet, but I’m putting it out in the universe!

Have you ever done that? Wanted something so bad you think about it, dream it, and talk about it all the time? Has it ever worked for you? A few years ago my husband introduced me to that concept. I'll admit, I am stubborn, hard headed, and often resist change and trying something new. Then one day I took his advice and did it. Man, talk about a life changing experience! As a result, I’ve experienced positive results so I can attest to the fact the saying is true: “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”

That goes for both positive and negative thoughts. If you dwell on every negative thing that could happen in a situation, guess what, it will because that’s what you concentrate on. Why? Because you don’t take the steps to find a way to make what you want happen. Flip the switch from negative to positive and the results will surprise you. Changing your focus from what won’t happen, and putting your time and energy in what ‘will happen’ makes a huge difference. Determination to see your goal reached will help you succeed.

So, along with losing weight - isn’t that on EVERYBODY’S New Years Resolution list? – I’m thinking publication. Do I have my sights stuck on traditional publication? Mmm… not so much. The publishing industry is fickle; too much old school thinking. Today is a new day, literally. 2012 holds so many publishing options it’s not necessary to get stuck in the old ways. There’s E-publishing, Self-Publishing by way of ‘vanity’ publishing, or publishing by way of Amazon.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. I know I’m going to see my book on Amazon…now it’s a matter of how it’ll get there.

And here’s where patience and research comes in.

Since I’m putting all of my positive energy out there, let me share the list of things I want to happen this year, as far as my writing career is concerned:

• Be published by a publishing company.
• Sell a lot of books of course!
• Be interviewed by local radio and television stations.
• Participate in the Writer’s Conference in my city. 
• Continue to make wonderful connections with other authors and readers.

Interesting goals, but all are attainable…if I set my mind to it and follow the steps I’ve learned along the way. Can’t wait to see what my end of the year blog will say. I will definitely follow up to see what I have been able to achieve.

But for now, I continue to push forward. The question I’ve asked myself since completing A Heart Not Easily Broken is this: My MS is done…now what?

One of the most valuable lesions I’ve learned from my critique partners is to not wait to start writing the next book, especially when writing a series. Why? First of all, no matter what publishing route you take, readers will want to know when the next book will be available. Publishers and agents will be interested in the fact your writing a series, because lets face it, series can lead to more sales verses stand alone titles. Before investing in you, and your product, they will want to sample the next book to be sure of the continuity of your storytelling as well as characters. It’s always best to have a second book available upon request. The last thing you want to do is be pushed for time to get something down on paper and have it lack the fire and spirit of the novel that caught their attention. Think about it: when you query, you never do it with the first draft of your story. You’ve gone over it with a fine tooth comb to tighten up the prose as much as possible. That takes weeks, months even. Publishers won’t give you that kind of time to see results. If you lose their interest, they will move on. Why give them that chance? 

I haven’t waited around. After taking two days of down time to clear my head and spend time with the family, I dived back in and started writing the second book in The Butterfly Memoirs: Jaded. This wasn’t the writing by the seat of my pants kind of writing. Completing my first novel taught me a lot about my writing technique, planning, outlining, and scheduling. As a result, it took me twenty days to write the first draft. That was ten days less than the thirty days it took to write the first book.

What did I do differently?

First of all, I took time during the second and third edits of the first book to work on the deep character profiles and story outline. I didn’t rush through the process, only took time to muse over the story as a way to take a break from the first book. Doing so allowed me to go back to edits with a clear head. Having the second books out line completed paid off. There was no down time needed to muse over my characters or decide what type of story I wanted to tell. The day before I started writing chapter one, I found all the pictures I needed for scene references, character references, and put my charts together. From there, I wrote, wrote, and wrote some more.

Another thing I did differently was write my first draft on my laptop instead of by hand. LOL, I heard the gasps out there. When writing my first novel, I used the old school method of writing by hand. As a result I have three-hundred and fifty handwritten pages of my first draft. I wrote like a crazy person, any and everywhere I had a chance. In my car at the red light, while waiting for the kids to come out of after school rehearsals, and yes, even in the bathroom. The second draft was done while transposing the work to my laptop. A third draft was done on the laptop.

This time around, I opted not to write the first draft by hand. Since this first draft was written on my laptop it cut down the places I could write. Writing at the red light was not an option, and doing it with the laptop in my lap in the car while waiting for the kids was not comfortable. So, I had to start a schedule.

Schedule, I loath, but I’ll be darned if my hubby wasn’t right. It really does work!

My mornings start with routine house leaning three days a week. That is followed with checking in on my social networking sites – shout outs, promotions, and making new friends. After that, I allow myself two hours to put in some serious work before the kids get home. After that comes evening family responsibilities, homework and dinner. After eight P.M., if I have a thought or a scene that wasn’t finished in the time allowed, I put in another hour or two. Ten P.M. is my cut off time. It’s time to give my brain a break, watch T.V., or go to bed.

Two days out of the week are dedicated writing days. Light attention is paid to house cleaning, and one hour of social networking. After that, it’s on. I enter my writing cave and stay there for hours, taking a break every two hours to stretch, eat, check in online, or lay down to rest my eyes and brain. By three P.M., I’m done for the day. After six hours of straight writing/editing I am usually pretty productive.  Depending on the depth of emotion of the chapter, or the material to be covered at that point in the story, I may write one to three chapters in a day, an average of thirty pages, or about seven-thousand words. That’s on a really good day.

Is my schedule perfect? Nope, and it’s not set in stone. But I can truly say for the last few weeks it has worked wonders. I’m not mentally worn out, my house is cleaner, and my family happier. Not to mention there are less burnt dinners. LOL! If I stay on this path, I’m sure I will find reasons to continue putting my positive thoughts into the universe and see the results I’m looking for.

So, what are your writing goals for 2012? What dreams do you wish to see fulfilled? What path are you taking to make it happen? I told you mine, now share!

Happy writing!

MJ

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Does Your Story Have A Soundtrack?

Soundtracks. They can be found on T.V. shows, movies, and commercials. Even life has a soundtrack.

Have you ever found yourself doing random things like, cleaning the kitchen, walking down the isle at Wal-Mart, or sitting through the dreaded school conference bored to death and your mind wanders...a random song comes out of no where, yet fits the moment perfectly?

That's your personal soundtrack. Or laugh track, depends on the moment. LOL!

Every author finds inspiration for their story somehow, be it life experiences, a television program, newspaper article, you know the drill. Music is a big thing in my household. With my husband being a music producer, there are artist coming through at least once a week to record. If not, then he is always working on a new track, playing it for everyone to hear. My son, who recently finished playing in the Youth Orchestra for the Alliance Theater, plays the string bass and bass guitar. Suffice it to say, music is always playing around here, no matter what time of day. Because of that, the combination of my husband and son's artistic abilities were the bases of one of my main characters in A Heart Not Easily Broken, Brian Young. 

While writing the first book of The Butterfly Memoirs Series, I ran across the perfect song for Brian, Butterfly, by Crazy Town. No the title of the song has nothing to do with the series, just pure coincidence. I've been driving my kids crazy - no pun intended - for the past two years listening to this song. It's the first track on "Mom's Driving Music' CD in the car. If I'm driving and a scene is formulating in my head, the poor kids are held hostage as I keep hitting the repeat button over and over again. To bad! It works for me!




The bass line played in this song speaks to me. Brian is a bass guitar player in a band called Diverse Nation. When he meets his love interest, Ebony Campbell, he's playing in a night club when he spies her dancing in front of the stage. One look and he's hooked. When I picture this scene in my head, I can imagine him, eyes glued to her curvaceous body as her hips sway, arms held over her head and eyes closed, lost in the music. He is captivated, his fingers strum the bass line while the band does a cover version of the song. Listen to the song...can you picture it?
 

 Another song that inspires me while writing the women in my books is Miss Independent, by Ne Yo.

It sets the stage for the strong female characters I write in my series. In truth, it's also the type of woman my male leads are looking for. The kind of woman that can stop them in their tracks and make them take stock of what she has to offer. She's strong, hardworking and has her own goals in mind. She will never be needy, yet always appreciate what the man in her life has to offer.

When editing, I refuse to listen to anything with words. Instead, I pull out my list of instrumentals.While working through my dreaded forty-six word Passive Words/Phrases list, my favorite song to listen to  is Fantasy and Fables, by KTEK.  Follow the link to track number 16. (Shameless promotion, this song was produced by my husband, so if you follow this blog, you MUST listen to it. I promise it won't disappoint!)

Other songs that have made their way into my writing soundtrack include,  Making Love In the Rain, by Herb Alpert -great for writing love scenes- and Through the Bamboo Forest, a song from the movie, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, performed by Yo Yo Ma. A hauntingly beautiful song I can feel in my soul, I pull this track out when I'm deep in editing mode and need to 'be' my character in order to write what it is they see, think, hear and feel. Since I write in first person, I put my heart and soul into every action and statement made by the characters in order for them to become so realistic, I can hear their thoughts. I put on my headphones and the song on repeat. It's amazing how focused I get and how much can be accomplished while this song plays.

 

So, these are the songs that fill my head and inspire me while I write. What do you like to listen too? Do your characters have a story that is inspired by a song? Please share!

MJ

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