Black Moments

I'm on my fourth book, and I still struggle with defining a truly meaningful black moment for my characters. For those of you who don't write, the black moment is that pivotal moment in the story when it looks like a positive resolution is impossible--the hero simply cannot win. With a character driven book, it's also the moment when the main character has to learn a vital lesson in order to grow and become worthy of winning the happy ending. It sounds so simple doesn't it? But it often takes me quite a few tries to get it right.

I guess the trick is to keep struggling, and hopefully one day I'll suddenly realize it's not so tough anymore.

Contests

For someone who just finaled in the Golden Heart this is going to sound a bit odd--I'm cutting way back on the contests I enter. Why? Because they suck up a lot of time and energy, and they give feedback on only the first part of the manuscript. Yeah, I know there are contests that judge other parts--I've entered some of them--but most focus on the first 30 pages or so.

I love contests because they give you a sense of progress in an industry that moves incredibly slow. Last year, that love translated into almost one contest per month. But the cold hard truth is, I can win a contest and still not be publishable...because editors buy the whole book, not just the first 30-50 pages. So, contests have to take a back seat to writing that really good book. I'll still squeeze in the odd contest, where the final round judge is an editor I particularly want to have read my work...but if you catch me doing more than that, rap my knuckles.

History

I had someone ask me at the RWA conference why I chose the time period I did (13th century) to set my books. Especially since I had chosen the years just prior to the appearance of a certain rather renowned Scot--William Wallace. I don't think I answered the question very well at the time; I said I couldn't recall.

But thinking on it further, I remembered the truth: I actually declined to write about Wallace, because he was already famous. In fact, that whole time period (late 13th century, early 14th century) has been written about quite alot. Instead, I chose to write about the rule of a king hardly anyone had heard about--Alexander III...and I remember why. I'd heard a very interesting story of how this king had died tragically in 1286 while riding home in a storm to reach his relatively new bride, Yolande, with whom he was absolutely besotted. I figured if that wasn't fodder for a romance, what was? And although I haven't written the story of Alexander and Yolande yet, it percolates in the back of my head, and I have a sense that one day it will come to life on the page.

Now, of course, I'm in love with the 13th century. How about you? Do you love a particular time in history, and can you remember what lit the spark?

Coming down

Ok, back to business. It's hard to come down off the high of the trip to Reno but it's a necessary event. As many of the editors and agents reiterated at the conference during workshops and retreats--it's all about the writing. Write a good book, and we'll represent/publish it. So, I'm back to doing what I should be doing--writing. First the requested partials need to be double-checked and printed, then back to finishing my current WIP.

I'm also committed to helping my fab cp, Sylvia, make her deadline. She doesn't really need my help, because as usual she has things well under control, but I'll be there for her anyway.

One last coment on the trip itself--it was all the more enjoyable for sharing with one of my other cps, Cheryl, who made me laugh, bought me gallons of coffee, and valiantly sat with me through the award ceremony, even though we were squeezed together like sardines. That's a true test of friendship.

Success

How do you define success? If I were a different person, I might have defined the success of my trip to Reno by whether I came home with the Golden Heart or not. It's certainly one measure, and I wouldn't be truthful if I didn't say I'd have been pleased to win it. But I didn't.

Still, in all honesty, I don't feel like I lost.

I was treated like royalty while I was in Reno--attended parties, was wined and dined, had at least a hundred people congratulate me on finaling and wish me good luck ... maybe more. I met one of my first round judges, who said such wonderful things about my writing that I almost cried. I met six of the other women finalists in my category, who are all talented, delightful, generous-minded people that I'm proud to be associated with. I met my long-distance critique partner face-to-face for the first time and talked with her until the wee small hours of the morning, because on some level its clear we're kindred spirits. I pitched to the editor and agent I had appointments with and both requested partials.

How could anyone not say that was a successful trip? It'll be hard to beat...except maybe with a first sale!