Writers Survival Guide V

According to one writer, summer is the time to "gather" and winter is the time to "harvest". This theory is based on writers traveling to research, storing up their facts and weaving them into stories, when at home. Some writers can do this on the fly, but my characters like to come to this big old PC setup. They avoid my laptop, but articles, letters, other stuff flows freely upon its screen.

In Missouri's summer heat and humidity, I've been doing the reverse of above, rather writing my stories within my air conditioner and fans. But some summer stuff takes up the rest of the time--that old balance of life thing, you know. You can see some of what I do to balance at my other blogs, The Second Cup and My Jam Jar. I thought for this post, I'd share a variety of what I think works for writers....

Friendly Support: It's true that luck plays a part in writers' success, but to it's important to have friends and support. One of mine reads her Tarot cards for me, as we follow the progress of a sale. I'm a Runes-girl myself :) But I have many other friends who are not associated with writing, who balance me. It's very important to get out from behind a desk and experience life and I'm one of those who does a lot of that, thus an eclectic mix of friends.

Equipment: If you have a laptop, don't overlook a buy on a cheap AlphaSmart 3000 or their Dana, now listed on places like EBay. Lots of writers still working their rough drafts on both, though the Dana has more capability, i.e. SD storage. One of these guys automatically saves where you left off, pops on and off without the slower loading of a laptop. My 3000 weighs 1 lb and runs 750 hrs on 4 AA batteries, which last a long time. It does not have the SD ability, but I've written lots of rough draft articles on it, letters, posts that needed some thought, etc. A USB transfer into my PC or laptop is easy by parking it wherever you want the draft to go.

Netbooks: These are super for travel ease, but not so hot, if you're a real typist and many writers do around 100 words per minute. However, a friend and I are going to test my AlphaSmart, used as a keyboard, and also try a USB keyboard to see if use can be easier at home. One writer carries an extra keyboard in their luggage to hook up to a smaller laptop. We're seeing now some rolled keyboards and others,that would attach to netbooks.

Organizing: I should probably write a whole post about this, but here's a few tips:
1. Always get a small spiral notebook to keep your websites needing passwords. You'll use a lot of these places, and a replaceable paper notebook makes this much easier. Mine is crammed with websites and blogs that need passwords.
2. File folders. You really, really need them. I started out using a plastic basket that would hold them.

Watering Holes for Writers: These are countless and everyone has their favorites. Since agents are a writer's main tool, here's a few pertaining to researching agents:
1. Writers Digest sponsors this one, great for general information and some agent interviews, Guide to Literary Agents
2. Query Tracker has been listed as a top writers' site, does what it says, but also has a terrific stash of info.
3. Lit Match. I like this site and sometimes agents come into correct/update their material. There's a hefty lift of agents aboard.
4. Publishers Marketplace. Absolutely essential when tracking publishers, agents/agencies, editors, etc. $20/mo for the paid version, but Publishers Lunch available from Cader Books is free and also has a list of sales, delivered email. Quite informative. Some writers keep their rights posted on the previous, plus have a website.
5. LinkedIn. Where professionals of any industry meet. Quite the watering hole, but not to be used as one might Facebook, with casual chatter. This is a business site.

Do not overlook Podcasts. Agent and Writer interviews are great, and you can listen from your MP3 player or your computer. There's a lot of how-to information contained in podcasts. iTunes is popular, but there are other ways/software to download and listen. Podcasts are great for anything. I especially like to listen while driving a long stretch, and that is one of my favorite hobbies--driving long stretches.

If you haven't read my previous tips, you can find them by looking for Writers Stuff and Writers Survival Guide Labels. My website is also stuffed with writers tips.

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Terminator Conflict

Terminator: Salvation [Theatrical Release]
Not a usual fan of sci-fi, I was tremendously impressed by Terminator Salvation.

Christian Bale headlines the cast. But I was more impressed by Sam Worthington, an actor from Oz/Australia. He's set for more film releases.

The plot on this is great, from a writer's point of view. Enemies or unlikely candidates, in this case, Christian and Sam, are pitted against each other initially. Christian's role never varied, never had that many internal conflicts, but Sam's character did.


Without giving away the twist in Sam's role, his conflict creates more characterization, in my opinion. He has to make choices right along about how he is going to react to any situation.

Christian's character knows what he will do, he has a single goal, the survival of humanity.

But at each turn, Sam Worthington's character must decide what he will do and in my opinion, his role creates the better hero and a better character.

Inner conflict, the choices one makes, is a defining quality.

As for acting, Sam Worthington's facial reactions, especially his eyes relay where he is in his current conflict.

Good movie for writers to watch, comparing conflicts and what makes a real hero. Well, I guess saving the world from a nuclear devastation created by machines might be the standard hero.

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The Hiatus Well

Every once in awhile, writers drop out of everything. Sometimes they're working on contracts, or some times they're "going back to the well". Sometimes, they're just working on life-interferes projects.

Since self-promotion sucks up a high percentage of writers' time, it's often difficult to make time (repeat: MAKE time, not FIND time). Now, this is going to get deep, so please stick with me....

While necessary, conferences can suck time and energy, before and after. (Before a major conference, I used to spend about a week before and one after, devoted to preparation and recovery, respectively.) Sometimes writers need to get out of their caves and circulate with other like species. Sometimes, they need to stay away from other writers and just focus on their own work and career. Many top sellers are now circulating less and writing more. According to one survey I read, submissions to agents are up now, writers seeming to be more productive.

In today's economy, conferences had better have the good stuff to get attendees. That means the professional line-up of speakers, agents, editors whatever needs to be outstanding. Else, why would a writer leave their keyboard and possibly their own means for a paycheck?




If an agent says she is going on hiatus to clean up her workload and meet client obligations. I respect that agent.

The Creative Well is deep and dark and diving into it isn't easy. To brew a truly unique story, one that the writer can create and write themselves, is exhausting mental work.

Mental work needs physical balance, which also takes time and often writers neglect this. Samantha Hunter is a writer I respect because of how she balances her life and creativity, which actually fosters even more story creativity. Other writers garden, ride motorcycles, and I especially like to do just about anything creative, plus driving on open road. Most writers are creative creatures by nature, either prior to or during their careers. Barbara Samuel's blog post about her process in bread baking reveals much introspection, and I like to bake, etc., too as you can see on my other blog. I'm also into many, many other activities as yet another of my blogs lists.

I've been in my Hiatus Well now for a short time now, keeping up whatever business necessary, and creating something I love and hope editors also love--well, readers, too, but first you have to go thru an agent, to an editor, and then to a reader. That's simplifying the journey.

Today, I've been surprised by the progress in a new project, more pages than I expected. To wrap myself around this new idea, embrace it, took more time than usual--because it wasn't my usual.

Uh-huh, pleasantly surprised by this project developed while in the Hiatus Well for only a short time. It's been a real stretch, exhausting at times, but so far I'm pleased. Writers have to nestle into projects and this one took a lot of feeling around to settle in for the long ride.

Nice Ride.

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Tallchief Fans

Another Tallchief fan has just written me about more in this Desire series, the Tallchiefs. In particular, Emily, the adopted daughter of Duncan Tallchief is most requested, which is what she wanted.

Native Americans in kilts. How much better can it get? :)

At the present, there are no more Tallchiefs in production, though I would truly like to write more, one of Harlequins top sellers according to the editor there. I'd like to top off that series with one particular story and Emily does need to "age" a bit for her love.

Writers can sometimes input to cover art, and I did for Tallchief Celebration. That's my 3 garnet ring on the cover :).


You can read more about the Tallchief series at my website. Deep into other stories, I do love to hear from readers, on all my books and try to answer each letter.

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Interview of Psychic Triplets' Mother

Greer Aisling, the mother of my psychic triplets, has a lot to say in her interview.

Many of you are excited about Greer and asking when she's having her own book. So far there are no plans for it, but you can get a glimpse of what a psychic mother, a professional psychic herself, deals with her children.

I had a lot of fun writing this interview as Greer. I hope you enjoy it and will comment on her lovely children :)

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A Writer/Editor Marriage

The Pendragon Virus (SD #611 - Dec 90) was just reviewed by Va Book Lover at eHarlequin on April 27th, 2009, 2:22pm. Just how old is this book? Count 'em: 18 years, going on 19 in Dec. Every Girl's Guide To... was just reissued and it was a 12-year old book. So apparently oldies but goodies. :)

The Pendragon Virus pits a working mother standing up to a tough boss for employment amenities. A wager is on: He'll live her life, including being Mr. Mom to see just how difficult it is to be a working mother. (Mm. With today's benefits shrinking by the hour, maybe this book is more appropriate than I thought.) How neat that Va Book Lover would actually be brave enough to review an 18-year-old Desire. This was during my Melissa Senate as editor period. We worked together for about 10-years and I loved her light touch.



Those 10 years were sheer magic for me. A writer and editor can work in harmony. Or not. My feeling is that the writer, while able to ingest and contemplate suggestions from an editor, the basic book belongs to the mother, which is that writer.

Melissa went on to do other things and is now an author herself. You can find her at her website, or at Facebook, etc. Her first Red Dress Inc., See Jane Date, became a Lifetime movie.

Once a bookseller said of me, "She isn't going anywhere". Now that scared me, until she explained that I would probably have long shelf life. Oh, thank you, thank you.

Highly talented Melissa is going to be around for a long, long time, too.

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A Super Interview: Writer's Slant

Silence the Whispers



BookstoreDeb has posted an interview with me. Naturally, I'm tossing out lots of writer-advice, if you want to drop over. (If so, please post a comment? Thanks.:))

Deb provides a nice interview, very thoughtful, so all that is necessary is to either talk in the answers with Dragon, or write them.

I met Deb at Lori Foster and Diane Casteel's Reader and Writer Event 2008, which I enjoyed so much. A real highly of the year. She does a nice job of presenting my Psychic Triplet Trilogy. I have more interviews coming up, so watch for them. In one, I'll play a character, the mother of the triplets, Greer Aisling. More fun.

As for Deb's interview, everyone has different experiences, but writers are a sharing lot, and some of the craft is hand-me-down. Naturally, this gets diluted a lot, but Dwight Swain's Techniques of the Selling Writer is still tops with me.
Techniques of the Selling Writer




I met this grand old gentleman, now passed, and gave him a copy of my first book, a catagory for Berkley Second Chance at Love. He sent a postcard that means more to me than most awards and it read something like, "You write a romance as it should be written".

I'm in spring office cleaning mode and looking at a laundry basket full of articles and awards, and hoping I find that postcard. How nice of Swain to take the time to send it. How lovely.

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