Time Sucking!

Happy Friday! The one day a week most people can't wait for to come. LOL Okay, even I look forward to it. :)

Talking about time sucking today because it's something I've been doing for the past week. I'm one of those writers which can throw a novel into being in three weeks. But then you put me in a everyday time frame and I can't seem to structure myself enough. Well... that might not be right, either. I use a timer for how long I can blog, promote and time suck. Yet I don't seem to be getting nearly enough done.

Some authors use the word count method everyday. This is when they have to write a certain amount of words a day. I don't believe in lying to myself, so this is something I don't do. With three children, a part-time job and a home that has been under construction for two years, I find it hard to do a word count.

So, how not to time suck and get something done? I don't know, besides sitting my ass down and ignoring the everyday things that life throws at me. I'm happiest when I'm writing. There is no moody Mommy, nasty nagger, or bitchy wife! Nope. I'm happy as a clam and just as playful. But why do us writers torture ourselves with putting off what we love to do? Why would we silence our voices when they're screaming inside to be heard? Hhhmmm.... I'm going to have to think about this because right now it's 7:45 AM and I need to get the kids off to school and myself to the out-of-the-house job. Too bad I'm in the mood to write! LOL

Have a Sparkling Day!
Rebecca Rose

Review: 'A Lady Never Tells'

Today on Review Wednesday is Candace Camp's A Lady Never Tells. I acquired this novel from Romance in the Backseat when I attended their Blog conference back in March; and I have to tell you the three days of that intense conference was well worth the time and money. I learned so much more than I thought possible when it comes to blogging. Of course that is for another blog. :) 

So without much ado (confetti falling from the ceiling) I present the sophisticated historic romance by Candace Camp, A Lady Never Tells.

 Mary Bascombe is a woman on a mission. With her father died her mother confessing, moments before dieing, she is granddaughter to the Earl of Stewkesbury. Now Mary must cross the dangerous waters of the Atlantic with her three sisters in hopes for a better life. They leave behind all they know, including a sinister step-father who wishes to sell the girls for profit. The four young woman are an independent and wildly bunch who stick together when danger arises and someone tries kidnapping their sister, Rose.

Sir Royce Winslow is a man in the right place at the right time. When the girls papers are stolen, which will prove who they are to the Earl, Royce apprehends the culprit. He lays eyes on the four feisty woman but it is Mary that pulls at his heart. When he learns of their lineage, Royce brings them to see the predecessor to the Earl, whom is his step brother through marriage. The girls are then sent to Willowmere, the earl's country estate, to be polished and learn the ways of an English Lady. However, Royce can't help himself and he joins them. Mary is a welcomed relief to the stuffy and rule abiding ladies he's used to. Now, if only he can only keep the girls safe and win Mary's heart, the world would be perfect.

I was very submerged in this novel. Actually, today I looked for the followup to it so that I can put it on my TRL (to read list). Being one who has read very few historic novels, I found Ms. Camp's rendition of the time knowledgeable and believable. I could see the dresses and male attire clearly, hear their way of talk and understand what was expected of them during this age of time. The emotional and sexually pull between the two main characters was brilliantly played out and I didn't mind having to wait close to 230 pages for them to finally consummate their yearnings. I can fully admit, I appreciate a good sex scene and I wasn't disappointed. All and all, the book was a wonderful read which had me thirsting for more. In the next few weeks I'm positive you will find the next book in the series on here.
Warning: F/M romance, loss of innocence
Congratulations, Candace Camp on Four Blue Roses!
Candace Camp's website: http://candace-camp.com

Have a sparkling day!
Rebecca Rose

Monday Beginnings

Good morning Monday! Today I'm talking about the all important first sentence. Hope it's helpful and informative.

The beginning of our stories is so important that we sometimes over do it when it comes to rewriting. What seemed like a good idea to start our adventure, mostly gets rewritten over and over until our original is in no way close to what we started with. This trap can cause many writers to give up or put their stories away forever, or at least until they have an other epiphany about how to reel the audience in.

Now most writer's will tell you, and you'll read it in the many books that are written on how to impress an editor/agent, we must write a beginning which will pull these people in so that a contract is inevitable. This is true. But the important truth is, if you write something which pleases others and not yourself, then you will fail. The secret is to not compromise your voice and to do the best you possibly can with clean edits and POV (point of view), which both have made some serious changes with their rules, in the last few years. This will be for another blog.

Your beginning, or more importantly your first sentence, must be captivating. An action, an adventure or conflict. The all important first sentence must answer the question: Will this be a story that will pull the reader in to turn page after page?

Write the first sentence with feeling. Have it show something and then bring in the action. Make it dramatic and use your five senses--
She walked across the street, looking as she went. Uumm... what was she looking for? Who the hell is she? How did she cross the street and what was the day like?
Annabelle trudged across the scolding dirt filled road, all the while searching for a shady spot to rest in the God forsaken town she broke down in. Much better if not a little long. However, you get the point. We know who she is, we know why she's in the town and what the day is like. Trudged lets us know she's tired, scolding that is HOT and so is she, dirt filled road (have you ever been on one during a scolding day? Uhhh!!) The scene brings up visions of cracked earth that are dusty and parched. Therefore, so must are character be. God forsaken a place which was forgotten and has little inhabitants which are probably not trustworthy. Totally not a town I wish to visit. So we have, sight (dirt filled road), touch (scolding) and sound/hearing (God forsaken) There doesn't seem to be anyone around to make noise, which makes it a little scary if you ask me. Okay, so we've used 3 of the 5 senses.

So Annabelle is stuck. Who is she going to seek out? What is she going to do? Where is she? When will she get help? Why did she break down in this town? And How will she get out?
With all these questions I have to wonder what will happen next! Therefore, I'll keep reading and turning the pages.

Anyone else have some tricks they use to open their stories? If so, I'd love to hear from you. :)

Have a sparkling day!
Rebecca Rose