Writers, Writing and Nora Roberts

Photo by Denny S. Bryce, Universal Studios

Writers, writing, Nora Roberts and general good stuff.

That's it in a nutshell. First full day of RWA Nationals in Orlando kicked off with a luncheon where I hung out with romance authors Renee, Kelly, Jodi and ShaSha (couldn't pronounce her name if I wanted to, but I asked first before giving her a nickname:).

The ballroom was packed. All 2600 attendees decided to drop in on the luncheon, and it was worth it to hear Madame Nora Roberts' keynote address. She has some 165 novels in the can as they might say since she started in romance in 1979 (I think I got the year right). But add to her writing credentials the joy of listening to her presentation. and voila!! She's funny, poignant, honest and just one of the best speakers I've had the pleasure of enjoying inside or outside of the publishing industry. So after getting fully charged I went to a workshop to find out whether I was a plotter, plotster or something else. What I found out is it doesn't matter what you do as long as you finish the book. Yep. That was it. But the three authors who did the presenting were funny, and gave good insights as to how the approach they used worked for them.

Next, I fell in love. Roxanne St. Claire's dynamic, incredibly eye-opening workshop - How to Mend a Broken Scene - was what she hoped it would be (at least for me) life-changing! The room was packed (there was a slight challenge with handouts), but frankly, it didn't matter. This workshop was all about content, dissecting a scene and getting to the heart of conflict, goal, tension and choices. It was info that you just had to be there to 'get' (and that's in more ways than one!).

Big day tomorrow. I have editor and agent appointments. It will make for a good Friday.

Also, found new friend over sushi. I'll tell more in later posts. Except to say, she's been in the TV writing business for more than a decade with a few Emmys to her credit. Delightful conversation. I intend to drop in on her workshop tomorrow.

Today at the RWA National Conference

Found on the web - Thandie Newton.

The best thing that happened today is that I spent a crazy amount of time at the pool and didn't need to take a three-hour nap afterward. Yeah me!

However, seriously, it wasn't the best possible thing that happened today. I registered for RWA and got my editor and agent appointments confirmed. We'll see how I do going into year three of the quest to get some substantial feedback from an editor or agent. I've made improvements to the story. The comments I received from the Fab Five Contest I placed in were divinely helpful. So I'm pitching TOR and an editor from Book Cents Literary Agency. We'll see how those go later this week.

In the meantime, I've got some plotting to do. Way too many workshops to choose from and I intend to be focused. Make certain I get the most out of every minute of the next few days. So tomorrow, after my morning walk and swim, I'm going to spend time with my conference planning tools and get this puppy mapped out. good times!

On My Way to Orlando

This was taken at Universal Studios in April 2010
by Denny S. Bryce

Getting ready for Orlando has been in the forefront of my mind for a month. I've categorized it as vacation time, writing time, getting re-connected time - but I'm really just ready to be there instead of here. But I've got a problem...my son swiped my big suitcase (he's in Europe) and now I'm struggling to get two weeks worth of clothing (I'm staying an extra week at my time share) into a carry-on bag. Well, it ain't happening. So, I've got to get up tomorrow early, finish cleaning the house - really early - and buy a new suitcase!

Now that I've shared all of the fun packing nonsense, what I really need to do is finish my manuscript, nail down my pitch, and organize my brain for work, work, work. But I'm also excited about the prospect of being around so many writers. So many stars in the publishing business, so many talents yet to emerge. It just gives me energy to be around them. I wish I could capture that energy and sprinkle it around my house for the 11 months in between nationals.

Of course, I could get more involved in my local chapter WRWDC, volunteer, get into a critique group. All of which I did in 2010 now that I think about it, but there's something about RWA nationals.

So what are my goals for RWA in 2010? There's only one...finish the book. Bold statement. I paused before writing those words. But it has to happen sooner or later. Right!

Lets Get Serious

Photo by Denny S. Bryce


Here is the question of the day. How much time do you spend deluding yourself about your writing? I'm not being super-negative. I'm just realizing - and okay, maybe this is all about me - but I'm not giving my writing the RESPECT it deserves and warrants because I'm a decent writer. I may well be a good writer, but I'm too busy thinking about writing and wishing my life was more organized so I had the time to write.

No excuses...make the time. Commit. Get it done. Tell me about your biggest  'excuse'? Does it fly? What will it take to turn the corner? Do you know? If so, come on and pull on your big girl pants and SHARE!

Maxwell - Pretty Wings

I just had to share this video. This album (whoops, showing my age:) CD- BlackSummers'Night by Maxwell is brilliant...this is a beautiful vid...

A Few Thoughts about "Furious Love"

Photos lifted from the Internet

"She is beautiful beyond the dreams of pornography ... she is an ache in the stomach when I am away from her ... I'll love her until the day I die!"  --Richard Burton 

Let's talk about creating memorable characters and memorable love stories. Then let's talk about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. I'm still working on the how of creating these characters in my fiction, but I think I've found some inspiration in this real life love story.

There's a new book out called "Furious Love" by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger. I'm reading it now, but I've been aware of Liz and Dick - as the tabloids used to call them -- since I was a kid in Ohio. Back in the 1950s, black families were mesmerized by Hollywood's movie stars just like any other family, and my grandmother, who raised me from 2 to 10 (or even longer in many ways), loved Liz Taylor. She was a huge fan of Liz's big-girl movies. Not the National Velvet or the other films Liz made in adolescence, but she watched the Liz who were low-cut dresses and black eyeliner and red lipstick. My grandmother would take my brother and me to watch 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof', 'BUtterfield 8' (she LOVED that movie) and 'Suddenly Last Summer' to name a few of the remarkable Taylor vehicles made when Liz was at the height of her beauty and (unfortunately) also her personal tragedy.

I'm not sure what my grandmother thought of Liz's private life (probably helped that Liz married most of the men she slept with), but except for Liz Taylor I don't recall my grandmother ever sitting still or staying awake for 'fiction'. She watched The Ed Sullivan Show and Sing Along with Mitch because Leslie Uggams, "a Negro girl was on the show".  But when it came to Liz Taylor my grandmother would leave the house (go to the movie theater). She rarely left the house except to go to the grocery store or the AME church.

I'm not necessarily endorsing the book here. I'm recalling a time when movie stars were untouchable and eerily pretty and dangerous (James Dean). So far the book is good reading, but think about writing a book that takes the risks that Liz Taylor's 13-year love affair featured - marriage and divorce and marriage and divorce. Drunken brawls, passion, sex, talent ... to this day, she is still a conflicted character to me; searching for happiness. Talk about drama? All romance writers should study Liz and Dick, I know I am. Motivation - Liz's sheltered youth. Her dependency on men. Her lust for men. Then keep in mind the era she was born into that kept women from taking risks - personally or professionally. She wanted independence and back then for her that meant marriage.  Then she falls in love with a man who was a romantic, a brilliant talent, a tortured artist, an admitted drunk - a bad boy who worshipped her (Spike and Buffy anyone?).

"I am forever punished by the gods for being given the fire and trying to put it out. The fire, of course, is you." --Richard Burton

It's the tortured romance that requires an epic tale, with big heartache, which only comes from big love.

Placed in Fab Five Writing Contest - Excited...But...

Apartment with a View by Denny S. Bryce

After four years of writing original fiction I entered my first writing contest two months ago. It was with the Wisconsin Romance Writers. And let's just say, I was thrilled when I learned I'd placed 5th out of 28 stories in the paranormal category. But the writing contest world is making me a little crazy.

In my 'real' world job, I don't 'listen' to naysayers and/or take advice from just anyone in the industry because I'm confident in my knowledge of how to run my business/handle my projects. I know I know how to do the best possible job or at least how to ask the best questions to ensure I do the job the way it needs to be done. But Denny the writer is a jumble of nerves and insecurities and its an odd, exciting mind-set for me to explore.

Denny the writer is easily swayed by the comments of other writers, or people in general when it comes to my writing. But oddly, if they say something good, I rationalize the comment with reasons as to why I should distrust the response/reaction. Be it a co-writer in my critique group or a best friend or even the agent who judged the finalists, I can't just take it in.

Let me be clear about the agent's comments - they were glorious. I mean she pointed out the positive and then gave excellent advice/insights on my story. If you've judged contests before, you know how they work and what to expect. Opening, Plot, Main Character, Dialog. Each topic, if you will, is scored and analyzed.

So, I'm excited. I did really well - didn't win, but I did well.

So what's eating at me?

The comments have sent me into a major re-write mode. And I guess, each time I move forward, I feel like I'm taking a step sideways. And the bottom line is that I'm still not done!

I wish I had more to share. Something more introspective to make this post insightful, but the deal is that writing a book takes time and consistency and hard work. Each success is measured. Satisfaction has to be in the process.

I love the process, but I just wish I had more time to devote to it.