-image-Visual Writers vs Auditory Writers

September 19, 2008 | Uncategorized, Writing

In my research of how the brain works, I’ve been reading a lot about creativity and the chemistry that spurs and nurtures it. One particular area of interest is metaphor. People think in all different ways, and it turns out that a great many artists are synesthetes, where the brain blends two or more senses. For example, someone hears the word cat and simultaneously sees the color blue.

There are various grades of synesthesia, some profound and some subtle. Some people are simply visual thinkers, or perhaps that should be visual rememberers. When they see a cat, they don’t see blue, but their memories pluck out things that somehow, someway resonate with cat and bring them to the fore. As in: cat-soft quilt from childhood-scratch of sandpaper on fingertip-squish of Jello-distant thunder-etc. All in a split second of course, but the remembrance of somewhat similar, vaguely suggestive memories are available for use. Sometimes they’re just thoughts, but sometimes they become a book by Barbara Samual or an image that lingers from Stephen King.

Some people simply think metaphorically, and when you read their words, they are filled with color and light and images that surprise and delight, that give the reader the gift of their special sight.

And some people do not think metaphorically. Like me. Instead of images and sensations, what happens to me is that odd bits of other conversations come to me. Real or imagined, I don’t know, but my associations are predominantly heard, not seen.

This has a profound influence on my writing. I struggle mightily over metaphors, despite my knowledge that metaphors are incredibly powerful and give context and meaning to the reader that can’t be given any other way. My manuscripts tend to have a billion XXs where a metaphor should be. I’ve been taught not to accept the first, most obvious metaphor because it’s always going to be unoriginal, a cliche, but often, I only have that one. This struggle has been with me since I first started writing.

It’s only now, this past week, that I’ve seen my struggle in a new light. Okay, my strength is not in word-pictures. But that doesn’t mean my process is wrong. Where my strength lies is in dialogue. Because I hear really well. I’ve been told, and believe for myself, that my dialogue rings true and basically carries the story. The critical breakthrough, though, is that I’m not wrong or bad or stupid. My brain is another kind of brain. Which is just as valid, meaning I don’t have to turn in my writer’s license, at least not for this. I get to be my kind of writer, because there are lots of readers who find value in dialogue heavy work.

The word pictures will have to be left to those who have that gift. From this moment forward, I give myself permission not sweat it. This doesn’t mean I don’t have any metaphors in my books. I do, and some of them are quite good, but it’s not my primary gift. It’s okay. I can live with that. It’s a tremendous relief, in fact.

-image-July 28

July 28, 2008 | Writing, home life

Interesting (to me) bit of info on how women’s minds differ from men’s regarding sexual responses:

I’ve been fascinated by the slash fiction phenomena ever since I heard about the original zines featuring Spock/Kirk, before the interwebs became a giant scary super-scifi octopus with tentacles in every nook and cranny on earth. The thing I found most puzzling was that these m/m fictions were written primarily by women for women. I was even more surprised that I very much liked reading some – only two pairings ever got my panties in a bunch, but I seem to be conservative in slash circles. Now, Scientific American has reported some findings that may inform the discussion.

“The results, the researchers say, suggest that women are not only aroused by a variety of types of sexual imagery but are more flexible than men in their sexual interests and preferences.”

Women’s brains FTW!

But, the article infers that women need context for sexual satisfaction. Although women are aroused by visual stimulation, they want the romance, too. They are wired for romance novels that end with a woman who has found safety and bonding with her mate. And mostly, in slash, I’ve seen the most overall reader satisfaction from scenarios that also end with a safe bonding. The biological imperative: let me show u it. :)

As you can probably tell, I’m doing a considerable amount of research concerning the brain and sex, the brain before during and after intercourse, and also really hot slash. I’m also attempting to write the actual book, which is moving along at the same rate as the tectonic plates. I’m also a bit jealous of all the SF bound, but in truth, I’m incredibly not okay enough to go to National. Or to go much of anywhere. Especially because Wednesday is our anniversary. Shit.

-image-The Current Focus

February 27, 2008 | Writing

The book I’m writing at the moment (A Blaze) has given me the opportunity to work on some writing concepts that I believe in whole-heartedly, and that I’m nowhere near mastering. In this instance, I’m using the idea of Carl Jung’s Shadows – the part of us that is wholly unconscious but that drives us in all our actions. As it pertains to the book, I’m editing with an eye to catch all instances where the conflicts in the characters are stated blatantly and changing the scene to have the same message come through using only actions. Making all of it subtext. I’m not finding this easy. It has forced me to really understand my h/h history, but to veer away from stereotypical behaviors. In essence, put the characters in situations that trigger deep emotions, give them something to do that (in theory) give clues to the deep emotional issues but that are never stated, and leave the conclusions, and therefore the final makeup of the characters, to the reader. Oh, and it needs to be kind of funny.

-image-A Month of Wonderful Movies

February 5, 2008 | Writing, home life

This month, Turner Classic Movies is having their annual 31 days of Oscar, which means a bounty of fabulous films for these writers-strike days. I went to the monthly schedule and sat down with my DVR and programmed a whole slew of old favorites like Topper, I Married a Witch, the original Born Yesterday with Judy Holliday, The Awful Truth, A Thousand Clowns, My Favorite Wife….well, you get the picture.

I still haven’t finished all my RITA books yet, but some are very good. Then of course I have a book due end of Feb, and wouldn’t you know, that’s kind of occupying most of whatever brain cells that I have left. Oddly on this one, I seem to be in a weird pattern of writing the chapter, then dreaming revisions that night, then re-writing the chapter, and moving on to do the same thing with the next chapter. Usually I don’t dream my revisions (I actually don’t think it’s fully dreaming. It’s that space where I’m not completely asleep but not really awake) until I’m at the very end. Hm.

How’s it going with you guys?

-image-Back from Away

January 31, 2008 | Writing, home life

I was missing from here for a bit while we went there, but now we’re here again. :) Went to the movies a bit – tried to watch Beowulf, but sadly it wasn’t something I could get into. I left, in fact, and went to the next-door theater and watched August Rush. The writing was execrable but the music was good, so there’s that. Then on another night, I saw Sweeney again, and this time, I sang. Softly, but I did my sing-along as there were only a few people in the theater. I was so glad I went again.

Interesting experience – I’ve been having difficulty with the tone on the WIP. I want it to be sarcastic and funny and hot, but it just isn’t clicking. So I dug out a copy of an older Temptation of mine called HOT AND BOTHERED. It was as if I was reading someone else’s book. I have almost no recollection of writing the words. It was a good thing to do as it has exactly the tone I’m after, so we’ll see if I can still write like that. Oh, and how very much I wanted to do another edit, even though I’m pretty pleased with how the book read. It’s hard to read older stuff.

Now it’s crunch time on the book, so I’m going to be setting timers and meeting page counts and deeply immersing myself in the world of the page. I’ve still got three RITA books left to read, so I need to finish those.

And I got new glasses. I adore them. They’re different. And kind of purple.

-image-Food and Writing…how to make things easier

September 25, 2007 | Writing

I haven’t done one of these posts for awhile, but since this is working out so well for me, I thought I’d share. Each day, I try to start out with either steel-cut oats, whole grain cereal or a healthy smoothie:

1/4 cup silken tofu
1/4 cup soy milk (I use organic vanilla)
2 tbsp flax seed
1 tbsp flax oil
1 frozen banana
a few pieces of frozen peaches or some frozen berries
1 4 oz container of probiotic yogurt

Blend away!

Then, for lunch, I have either a cabbage/veggie Asian salad, or a Miso soup with cabbage/veggies.

Each Sunday I chop up:

1 head Nappa cabbage
1/4 to 1/2 head red cabbage
1 bunch scallions
2 red peppers
3-4 sliced carrots
3-4 ribs celery (sliced)
several sliced radishes
a bunch of sweet peas
anything else that looks good and crunchy

I make sure it’s all completely dry (yay salad spinner!) then I mix it all up and put it in one or two ziploc bags.

I decide, depending on my mood or the weather if I want salad or soup. If it’s salad, well, that’s simple – throw cabbage/veggies in a bowl. Add dressing. Eat. If it’s soup, I add some miso to boiling water, then chuck in cabbage/veggies. I also add some buckwheat soba or udon noodles to the soup, cause I like them. Sometimes I’ll add leftover chicken, which I shred or chop.

I find it’s much simpler when I don’t have to think about breakfast or lunch. I just know it’s going to be good, and good for me. and the big bags of cabbage/veggies last all week, and they really do stay fresh. So it’s only dinner that I have to worry about, and mostly the answer to that is to go out. :)

Anyway, that’s my Tip for the Day. Oh, and I try all kinds of Asian dressing, all of which have:

light soy
rice wine vinegar
whey sugar
a little sesame oil
a little flax oil
a little other oil, maybe

and I sometimes add:

mustard
mirin
toasted sesame seeds
peanut butter

although not all at the same time.

You guys have any neato tips to share?

-image-One Hell of a Week

September 18, 2007 | Writing

Let’s see…impacted, infected tooth. Out of town. Out of town, again. Migraine… Check.
Work. Uhhhhh, not so much.

I’m behind in everything now, thank you. Completely, sadly, behind. I have a to-do list that’s very long, and all I want to do is go back to bed.

Yeah, I’m probably the only one.

How’s your week coming along?

-image-Who’s Your Doggie?

September 7, 2007 | Writing

UPDATE: If you send me a (small) pic of your pup, I’ll add it to your comment!

I’m currently working on a book that stars a pet concierge. Needless to say, there are going to be a number of canine cameos in the book. Of course, my little darlin’ Jessie will make an appearance, but I was thinking it would be fun to feature other puppy pals in the book…so here’s your chance to have your dog immortalized in a new Blaze!

Comment below, giving me your dog’s name, age, breed, and a one or two line description, and I’ll do my best to include your pooch in print. I’ll also include some kitties, although fewer, and if you have an unusual pet, say a ferret or a pot-bellied pig, I’ll see what I can do.

No promises, however. If I get a gazillion posts, I wouldn’t have room for the romance, but hell, let’s see if we can populate PetQuarters right here!

PS – I have no idea if one can add a pic in a comment. If you can, go for it (small, please). Or if you’d like to add a link, that would be great, too. I’ll make sure and keep a running list of who will appear, so check back in late October to find out if your pet is going to be in a Blaze!

-image-Sept 4!!

September 4, 2007 | Uncategorized, Writing

It’s September! How did that happen? I’m not ready.

Went on an excursion yesterday with my gal pals and we ate (sushi! gelato!) shopped (Asian market! Tai Pan Trading Co!) and enjoyed the hell out of the day. It was a long drive, though, and I crashed last night, hard. Today, start with page 1 of the new book, work on my workshop, work on ST. Also massage, thank heavens.

Honestly, I still can’t get over the September thing.

I’m going to go look at my tomato plants. They’ll be history so very soon.

-image-I’m Giving a Class

August 30, 2007 | Online Classes, Writing

I’m going to be giving an online class in October. I’ve never taught an online class, although I’ve done oodles in person, so this should be interesting.

Course No.: 103

Here’s what I believe: Novels that involve the reader are about characters. Special characters. Characters who, through the course of the novel, go through a transformation. In romance novels, the characters transform because of their involvement with the other primary character (as opposed to, say, finding Moby Dick). I also believe that the only reason for plot is to force our characters into situations that make them have to chose. To transform.

The Core Decision is all about creating characters. It’s about using your own life, the joys, the tragedies, the love, the desperation that made us who we are. It’s about breathing life into your hero and heroine and your villain so that each of them leap off the page and into the reader’s heart. In this workshop, we will cover:

The Core Decision

* The Child’s Interpretation
* The Decision
* The Fallout
* Reinforcements
* Recognition
* The New Decision
* Actions = Transformations

The Process of Discovery

* Remembering
* Writing it out
* Shame
* Pain

The Fatal Flaw

* Character Arc and Emotions
* Transference — how plot reveals character
* Multiple Levels of Interaction — All the Yous of You

About the Instructor: Jolie Kramer, who writes romance under the name Jo Leigh, is a two-time RITA finalist and bestselling author of over 45 novels. She began her career in film, where she studied with Robert McKee, Syd Field and other brilliant teachers. Her TV series Mystagogue was optioned by Cinemax, and her screenplay Geezer’s Run was optioned by Northern Lights Productions. She also ghost-authored Great Big Beautiful Doll- The Anna Nicole Smith Story. Jolie has taught story structure and writing classes in workshops all over the country. To get her complete bibliography and learn more about her, go to www.joleigh.com/bio

Deadline to Register: September 28th.

Here’s where to register

This is hideously immodest, I know, but oh, well – the thing is, this class normally costs a whole heck of a lot more than $25. Seriously. So if it’s something you’re interested in, I’d go for it because I doubt very much that I’ll be offering it again at $25.

Be sure and let me know if you’re going to come play!

Also, I’m at Romancing the Blog today with serious questions about stuff. :)