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October/November 2002
Subscribers: 393 |
Published by Su Kopil
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Scenes and Sequels, in the hands of a true storyteller, are the two basic elements of any novel. Pare away all the other parts, the setting, theme, characterization, conflict, and drama, and you come down to these two building blocks which are necessary to form the foundation of your book. SCENES are the dramatic moments that illustrate the changes your character goes through in your story. This is where the action is, where bodies are found, lovers come together, or best friends meet for lunch. The scenes are the visual moments of your book, the parts that could almost be seen as part of a movie. Scenes should… --Illustrate your characters' traits, flaws, beliefs, strengths and personality through their actions/reaction to others. --Advance your plot. --Give your characters the opportunity to grow and change. --Show your character reacting to whatever conflict he or she is trying to overcome. Speed pacing through narrative. SEQUELS are the segues between scenes. This is the down time, when the pacing slows, the narrative increases, so the character and the reader can reflect on what has happened in the previous scene, make decisions regarding what to do next, and lay the groundwork for the next scene. Sequels are not the time for action, they are the time for introspection. Sequels are what often make books so much more powerful than movies, because we can read the characters' thoughts and emotions, without a single word being spoken aloud. The sequel is the protagonist's drive toward a new destination, or away from a previous home. This is the long hot bath before the passionate love scene (or the gruesome murder!) Sequels should... --Be a time of introspection. --Be about thought not action. --Transition the reader from one place and/or time to another. --Slow the pacing of your novel where appropriate. Strengthen characterization by illustrating character's beliefs. Here's an illustration of Scene & Sequel using Margaret Mitchell's classic "Gone With The Wind." Scene: Scarlett, on the porch with the Tarleton twins, learns that Ashley is to marry Melanie. Sequel: Scarlett runs down the drive in front of Tara. She thinks of Ashley, and, believing he simply doesn't know she loves him, decides she must tell him the next day at the barbecue. Shortly thereafter… Scene: Scarlett confronts Ashley about her feelings but he rebuffs her, admitting his engagement to Melanie. Scarlett's confrontation with Rhett leaves her feeling furious, rejected and humiliated. To top it off she hears the other girls talking about her at the party. Sequel: Scarlett slowly walks alone in the Wilkes' home where, partly from hurt, partly from spite, she decides to marry Melanie's brother Charles Hamilton. Mastering scene construction is the first step in writing, but linking scenes together through sequels is just as important. Scenes without sequels are merely a "screenplay" of events. Likewise, sequels without scenes are just like a "journal" of feelings. Only when the two are successfully combined can a well-rounded novel be written. * First appeared in The Launchpad, Spacecoasts Chapter newsletter. Leslie Kelly is a multiple-award wining author for Harlequin Temptation and Blaze. Her next book, NATURALLY NAUGHTY, is scheduled for release from Blaze in Nov. 02. Latest Release: Naturally Naughty Website: www.lesliekelly.com |
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Tempting |
Likes to Read: I mainly read romance novels -- and no apologies. I'm a sucker for a Happy Ending as well as for main characters who do the hard work needed to get there. Favorite Authors: Historical romances are my favorite -- I suppose I love the sense of being transported to another time and place that historicals convey -- and so it's no small surprise that most of my favorite authors fall into the historical romance category. And while I have many favorites, for the sake of parsimony, I'll limit myself to mentioning three. Mary Jo Putney for her rich historical detail and multilayered characters as well as for her bravery in using unconventional settings such as China and the Orient and tackling issues like biracial relationships in an historical context. Cathy Maxwell for her humor -- it just sparkles in every book. And I'll always love Pat Gaffney's historicals, especially a little gem of a book called Sweet Everlasting, which was set in turn-of-the-century Western Pennsylvania -- her prose reads like poetry. Reading Now: Right now I'm reading His Heart's Delight, a charming Regency romance by Mary Blayney. Cresting my yet-to-be-read pile is The Devil of Kilmartin, a Scottish historical by new author, Lauren Wittig. Website: www.hopetarr.com |
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His E-Mail Order Wife (Silhouette... FAVORITE FAQS: Favorite Movie? Dangerous Beauty (at the moment) What do you fear? My computer crashing or running out of tortilla chips during a deadline. How do you define romance? The exhilarating, enthralling, exciting rush one experiences on the journey to falling in love. Favorite fan story? Wow. There have been quite a few. But I guess if I had to choose one, it would be my first fan letter from a grandmother who told me how much she enjoyed Cowboy For Keeps. She also sent me a picture of a smiling, beautiful eight-year-old boy named Caleb, her grandson who was born profoundly deaf. I keep it nearby as a reminder of why I write stories about the power of love. Best time saving tip? A trip to the local drive-in for dinner. Favorite website? Too many to mention, but for research purposes, About.com. What are you reading now? Strapless by Leigh Riker, one of my all-time favorite authors. Writing schedule? 9 a.m to 3 p.m, business and revision time. 3 p.m-11 pm.- family time. 11 p.m- 2 a.m. writing time, when the phone stops ringing and everyone's tucked safely in bed, including most of the pets. Favorite Quote? The day will come when, after harnessing the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire. Teilhard De Chardin "In China, a plant called the "jade tree," which is a small shrub with rounded, jade-colored leaves, is considered to be a very lucky plant to have growing outside your front door. There is a saying: "Jade by the door, poor no more." - Superstitions, Eleanor Coombe *Editor's Note: You can buy indoor jade plants. Often used in Fung-Shui decorating. |
"Just because you're a late bloomer in life doesn't mean it's too late to grow and harvest your dreams. I'm a prime example of that," says Silhouette Desire author, Kristi Gold. Find out what drives this energetic writer whose recent book, HIS E-MAIL ORDER WIFE, debuted at # 1 on Waldenbook's Series Romance Best-seller's List.
SK: Kristi, how did you go from riding and showing Appaloosa horses to becoming a romance author? Take us on this incredible journey from dream to soon to be 13 published romances later. KG: When I married my rancher/doctor husband almost twenty years ago, I knew basically two things about horses-they ate a lot and they were big. When I started writing ten years ago, I knew basically two things about novel structure-you divide your story into chapters and you have to have characters. (okay, maybe I knew a little more than that, but not much) Over time my knowledge evolved with experience and I learned that both writing and riding require a lot of patience and practice. Although I enjoyed doing both, creating stories became my true passion. I ended my non-pro show career after placing top ten in both the national and world championships in one year and then devoted all my energies to getting published. I sold my first book to Silhouette Desire three years after that, in 1999. Since that time, I've been on an incredible joy ride in a career that I only dreamed of achieving, maybe a little later than most, but that made the rewards all the more sweeter. Some day I might go back into the show ring, but right now I absolutely love what I do and can't imagine doing anything else. SK: What drives you to succeed? Is there someone or something that inspires you to live your life to the fullest? KG: Again, I love what I do. And if I really want something badly enough, I've been known to be pretty driven through sheer dig-in-my-heels stubbornness. As far as inspiration goes, there are so many inspiring people in my life-my husband and children, my sister who has been behind me from the beginning, my friends, both writing and non-writing-that it's hard to pick any one over the other (not if I want to keep the peace). I will say that my father, who passed away the week my first Desire hit the shelves, told me not long before he died that he regretted he hadn't written down any of the stories running around in his head, and that he was proud that I'd accomplished my dreams. That in itself inspired me to continue on my path, and to try to enjoy each day, even when times get tough-and there will always be rocks in the road no matter how much success and luck is tossed your way. But a positive outlook has seen me through difficult times, something I learned from my mom, the Energizer Bunny of matriarchs who keeps going and going, even after enduring serious medical problems. She's pretty amazing. And aside from that, success comes when you absolutely love what you do! SK: Having read your Desire Series, Dr. Dangerous, Dr. Desirable and Dr. Destiny I feel your writing has a realistic edge. Serious themes are an integral part of your stories. In His Email Order Wife, the heroine deals with her own insecurity of being overweight. What do you hope your readers take away from your stories? KG: Although I'm charged with giving readers a satisfying love story, I firmly believe that including realistic issues only enhances a book-as long as the issue doesn't overwhelm the romance itself. The reader response to realistic elements has been great thus far. So I guess you could say that I want readers to connect with my characters while I attempt to evoke some kind of emotion, whether it be a laugh or a tear, dependent on what the story calls for. But most important, I want to leave them with the feeling that happy endings are within reach when guided by that all-powerful emotion, love. SK: Speaking of realistic….The Sheikh's Bidding is a January 2003 release. Where did the idea for your hero, Sheikh Samir Yaman, come from? With the current state of events do you worry that readers will find it difficult to accept such a hero? KG: Well, I could go on and on about what I term 'the sheikh mystique,' something I didn't quite understand until I was asked to write a sheikh hero. (Her Ardent Sheikh, Texas Cattleman's Club). Yes, the heroes have a definite alpha edge, but that does not mean they are abusive to women. But then that applies to any hero in my stories, whether he's a cowboy or a cardiac surgeon. In Samir Yaman's case, he's torn between duty and love, not so different from any romance involving royalty. What matters most is not what the hero is but who he is in terms of his ability to open his heart to a woman who is equally strong. The whole idea for The Sheikh's Bidding was just one of those random 'What if?' thoughts that developed when I was writing the first sheikh. It's also a story I was halfway through completing before the events of 9/11. Like many authors I know, I shut down for two weeks following that day and admittedly, I was initially concerned that the popularity of sheikh romances might decline due to the negative images projected over and over again on TV. But considering sheikh romances remain as popular as ever, I believe that romance readers-by virtue of their intelligence, intuitiveness and sensitivity-have not held an entire culture accountable for to the horrendous actions of a few individuals, as it should be. When all was said and done, The Sheikh's Bidding turned out to be a highly emotional story involving two people who overcome obstacles as they reaffirm their love-and the hero just happens to be an Arabian prince. I was also able to shatter a few stereotypes through the innocent eyes of a six-year-old boy. Guess you could say I'm very proud of this story and the message that I hope I've conveyed-love knows no real boundaries, even those involving cultural differences. SK: What would you tell writers hoping to break into the category lines? Any insider tips? KG: Bottom line, you have to respect and enjoy writing series romances. That said, the sole goal of writing a category book simply to 'break in' as a stepping stone could be very problematic, especially if one is fortunate enough to be bought by a category house (a not-so-easy feat). In other words, if you get The Call and commit to a series career (and editors do want authors who are committed to building a career), the whole process could become painful if you'd rather be writing something else. This is not to say that series authors can't branch out into other romance sub-genres; people do it all the time. But if you're going to spend time writing day in and day out to meet deadlines, you better believe in-and like-what you do. I've also heard writers say that category romance restrictions won't allow you to write the book of your heart. I say if you don't put your heart in every book, then you're going to fall flat with the story, no matter what you're writing. It's true that there are certain constraints that apply when writing a series book in terms of reader expectations and saleable hooks. Trends come and go, reader preferences evolve, but some 'hooks', both character (sheikhs, millionaires, cowboys) and plot (secret baby, reunion, marriage of convenience), are still very popular. In my opinion, the trick is to take those elements and give them a new spin. For example, my first Desire (Cowboy For Keeps, July 2000) involved a sexy cowboy and a single mom-a single mom who has a deaf daughter and a cowboy who was a hearing child born to deaf parents. Hooks with a twist. It's also important to remember that a book can have all the saleable hooks in the world but without a solid love story to hang them on, it won't sell. It's all about balance. And when targeting a specific line, authors should select one that fits their comfort zone, i.e. don't attempt to write a Desire or Temptation if you're uncomfortable writing more explicit love scenes. Readers have incredible radar. Oh, and while waiting to hear on that first submission, authors should write another book and another if possible, giving themselves a head start to building a name after selling a first book (or if rejected-more projects to offer). Lastly, don't give up. It took me seven years to make that first sale, and I've never regretted one moment of that time. SK: Writing a book is as individual as the people who are writing them. What is your process? Has it changed over the course of 12 books? KG: Well, I'm pretty much a seat-of-the-pants writer. My stories are built more around characters (they always come first) than around plot because I believe that characterization is the backbone of the anatomy of a satisfying story. But I've had to become more structured since I've started to sell on proposal (chapters and a synopsis). I think with each book I've written, I've learned something more about myself as a writer. I work really hard not to have my stories become static even if I do choose to utilize traditional themes and hooks. If I don't grow as an author and keep the stories fresh, then I'm going to have a difficult time keeping readers and making more sales. Luckily, I've been blessed with a rather vivid imagination so I'm inclined to have several ideas (and people) running around in my head. It does tend to get a little crowded in there at times. SK: Is there anything else you would like to add? KG: Have I mentioned that I love what I do?:) IN TOUCH: Website: www.kristigold.com Where readers can write you: email: KGOLDAUTHOR@aol.com or through the website. Snail mail: PO Box 11292, Robinson, Texas 76706 |
& A DIARY Harlequin Blaze #83, ISBN 0-373-79087-2 April 2003 |
The Where? I dreamed about getting The Call for a long time- practiced my reaction rehearsed what I would say- and I always hoped it would come at a time that would make a great anecdote. "Oh yeah, I was changing my son's diaper and had to put the editor on hold..." Or "Gosh it was so embarrassing! There we were having sex when the answering machine came on and he thought I was screaming with joy because of him...". Unfortunately, the truth is I was at work trying to uncross my eyes from the briefs I was looking at...Legal briefs, that is. And? It's funny. I'd waited so long for that moment and now I can't remember much about it except saying 'Oh my God, Really?', "Thank you, thank you so much' and asking 'Why?' I wanted to know what the editor had seen in me or in my writing that she made her willing to take a chance. She told me she liked the title... How Long? I've been writing my whole life (I guess it's about time I got it right), but I've only been seriously pursuing my dream for the past four years. Visit this up and coming author at: www.onewritersjourney.com |
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