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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C.: Linda Howard, The Keeper of the Nuts
Back with another "tips and tidbits" anecdote from RWA D.C....prepare to organize your nuthouse!
That's right...start taking stock of the "nuts" in your life...and keep writing no matter what the hell they're up to.
Today, I'm passing-on NYT's bestselling author Linda Howard's advice on how to write through anything. And damn, if she doesn't mean anything!
Thursday, July 16th, at RWA D.C., we were lucky enough to attempt to eat a fabulous lunch at the Marriott Wardman Park Washington D.C. I say "attempt" because it was tough to swallow let alone digest food due to Linda's beyond-hilarious keynote luncheon speech.
Linda set out to prove to us that she was the most prepared woman in the room to embark on and succeed in a writing career. She's adamant she made it in the publishing business because she is the organizer of her personal nuthouse. And she'd learned from the best how to stand-out in a crowd. After all, it was her mother that had pork chops (still warm) in her purse when Linda and her friends got hungry at a concert and the food vendor lines were out of control.
Linda encouraged us to always be prepared for success by learning how to keep writing...through anything.
Sounds like she should know...
For her, when you have a brother and EX "stupid slut" sister-in-law ("Bless her heart") - and those are all Linda's words...not mine...LOL!!! - you live in a nuthouse. When said people concoct a trip around the neighborhood with ex SIL in her wheelchair (after surgery) being pulled with a bungee cord by dear brother on his tractor, you live in a nuthouse. When these same family members attempt to travel up and over a bigger-than-big hill 'til the cord springs into action, you live in a nuthouse. Then do it again further down the block. Well...you get the picture!!!
And you now know why I couldn't finish my dessert and coffee unless I wanted to gag and/or choke between laughs.
Linda said she wasn't just the keeper of the nuts. She seemed to attract them too! Just like the rest of us do on our writing-to-publication journey.
But not to worry...Linda says we just need to "hang in there". "Do the best [we] can". "And when the nuts fall, take cover".
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Nuthouse Wishes --- D. D. Scott
http://twitter.com/ddscottromcom
P.S. And don't forget to put the pork chops (still warm) in your purse!Labels: Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C.: Janet Evanovich's Jelly Donuts & Reduction Sauce
So here it is...the launch of my blog series "Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C."!
For those of you who don't know, Romance Writers of America (RWA) held its annual national conference in Washington D.C. July 15th thru 18th. Over 3,000 of the romance publishing industry's best were there - everyone from best-selling authors to editors and agents to publicists to librarians and booksellers to big-time media people. For more info on the event itself and to preview next year's 30th such event in Nashville TN, go to www.rwanational.org!
I couldn't imagine a better way to start this blog series than with a few fun and fabulous tips from Janet Evanovich's Opening Session.
Janet spoke to us Thursday, July 16th while standing...that's right...standing on her broken foot! What a gal! She'd fallen off a stage during one of her book tour stops just a few days before but went "on with the show"...now that's one tough woman!!!
Janet cut-up with, cried and cussed with all of us as she told us about her climb from the slush piles to the bestselling star she is today. Did you know her Stephanie Plum series is now 15-years-old? Now you do!
Janet's chat with us was thrilling, but I really think she hit home with my carb-lovin' muses when she related writing to Jelly Donuts and Reduction Sauce! Here's the scoop:
"We're all like big fat jelly donuts," Janet said when enlightening us with her take on our process as writers.
The jelly, she explained, is our creativity. It's our job, as writers, to squeeze out that jelly from each of our own holes. Whatever it is that pulls our trains, that's the hole from which we squirt-out our creative jelly!
Fun stuff...don't you think?!
Janet told us she doesn't believe in writer's block, rather she thinks of writer's block as fear that she overcomes by "showing up for work every day". She said she writes slow. Very slow. She thinks longer and more than she writes, which brought us to another jewel of writing wisdom - Evanovich style.
Janet said, "I'm a Reduction Sauce Writer. I put all the crap in the pot, boil it down, then get the three or four sentences of 'essence' that makes it easy for my readers."
"I just put my ass in my chair," she said, "then analyze my style and formula. What do readers like about Janet Evanovich?"
She advised us to know who we are to our readers and to Never, NEVER save anything or hold back for the next book. Find a way to use it now, she cautioned, then "just pray other things come later too!"
Following an ornery, soul-filled giggle, Janet thought only a moment before answering an Actor's Studio-style final question...How would she liked to be greeted at the Pearly Gates?
Janet's answer? "Hello, Bitch!"
LOL!!!
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. My next writing tip and tidbit from RWA D.C. will focus on Linda Howard, The Keeper of the Nuts!Labels: Writing Tips and Tidbits From RWA D.C.
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