Today looks like it will be one of my favourite winter days – not too cold, fresh snow, and blue, blue skies. Of course, it helps that I don't have to shovel. ;) Christmas was wonderful - busy with family and friends, flush with food and drink, loud with talk and laughter. It did knock my writing routine out of whack, but how could I regret it? The holidays actually came at a good time in my schedule. Just over a week ago I finished revisions to “No Life But This” and sent it off to beta readers, and I'm waiting to hear about “Reservations of the Heart” from The Wild Rose Press. So this has been a good week to plot and brainstorm Manuscript #4. I've known my hero's name since October. Driving down to the Surrey International Writer's Conference, I spied a sign - “Justise Motorcycles.” And there he was – Justice, a Northern man, broad and strong, who uses as few words as possible. He's been percolating in my brain since then, and I've developed quite the back story for him. His match was harder to pin point, but I've been thinking about just what kind of woman would drive him crazy and yet be his soul-mate, and I think I've found her. My fingers are itching to start, but I'm controlling myself and working through “pre-production.” The last thing I want is to get sixty pages in and find the story is stuck. I need to spend a bit more time getting to know Justice and his lady (haven't decided on her name yet) before I can get to the fun stuff!
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Today's “To Done” list:
My Azores book, now known as No Life But This, had much of the main conflict based on a misunderstanding. Well, not exactly a misunderstanding (see how I rationalize it?), more of a “what he doesn't know won't hurt him” concept. Even as I was writing it my gut was telling me this was a mistake. I worked really hard to make the misunderstanding make sense, to give it good motivations, and I think I did a good job of that. But it was still a misunderstanding. Now, in romance, there's nothing more annoying than reading a book where, if the hero and heroine would simply talk, the story would be over by Chapter Two. I like to think No Life But This wasn't in that category, and yet my gut was telling me I was toying with that line. So when Jane Porter at SIWC told me “Don't base it on a misunderstanding!” I knew I had to make some changes. Thank goodness none of then were that major. The misunderstanding really only came into play during the black moment, when my hero finds out the truth, storms off in anger, and jeopardizes the happy ever after. But because I deleted the misunderstanding, I had to come up with another reason for him to storm off, or face the fact I'd have to re-write the last 20,000 words. Not something I wanted to do. So while baking, running and laundering today, I mulled over how to make it all work...and I think I've hit on a way that stays true to both my characters, falls nicely into the plot of the story, and even gives us further glimpses into the theme of the novel. It's been a good day! I admit it. I have an astronaut crush on Chris Hadfield. Likes millions of others, I first learned of Hadfield during his time as Commander on the International Space Station in early 2013. His blend of good humour, intelligence and humility—as well as his rocking use of social media—drew me in. And his rendition of David Bowie's Space Oddity from space capped it off. I've just started reading his book An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. He was nine years old when he watched Neil Armstrong step onto the moon, and says he determined to work toward being an astronaut that very night. What I find very interesting is that he recognized early on the chances going to space were, well, astronomically against him. At the time, Canada didn't have a space agency and only US citizens could get into their space program. That didn't stop him from following a path that could lead to space, should the opportunity come up. But he was careful to choose a route that, should space flight never come to pass, he would still consider his life well-lived. I think that is a vital lesson for all people to learn, no matter what their stage of life. We've all heard of people like Hadfield who have seeming impossible dreams, and yet achieve them. But what about those that don't reach their goals? Does that make their life any less important? Of course not. But while we strive for those far-reaching stars, it is important to keep our feet on the ground, and realize that today, right now, is where our influence lies. Tomorrow may never come, and if so, our present must be as rewarding and fulfilling as we can make it. Never let the hopes of the future make the present less than it can be. |