Psychology 101

Let's talk about ... relationships.

Wait, come back! Yeah, I see you running for the hills. Hear you screaming.

This will be good. Promise.

I was thinking today about friends. I posted a while back about how grateful and blessed I am to have as many friends as I do. These are the people I spend time with, enjoy spending time with - long to spend time with. The ones I don't get to see that often but wish I could. The ones I see on a regular basis and can't wait to see again.

What's interesting, and what we're going to explore in class today, is how different these people are. Not so much from the rest of the world (although they are unique in that respect - after all, they chose to be my friends) as from each other and even from me.

The BF and I have known each other for over 30 years. For all intents and purposes, we grew up together. (Actually, we're probably both still growing up.) Personality-wise, we're very different. She's quiet, fairly reserved. Likes beer and gardening. She's a chemist and thinks very analytically. I am none of those things. We do, however, have a lot of things in common - we both love instrumental music, off-the-wall humorous movies, Monty Python and the Moody Blues.

When I first met the WMVR, we discovered very quickly how much we had in common - both military brats, both book lovers, both moms. We were finishing each other's sentences within a week. She was the one who said, "You wrote a book? Oh, oh, oh! Bring it in so I can read it!" And then kept after me until the dream became a reality. Over the years we've discovered a lot of ways in which we're very different. But we're still friends. She's still my first independent reader.

My other 'great' friends - the Georgia Peach and Angelina - couldn't be more different from me. They're both good Southern girls who have tried but failed to get me to drink my tea sweetened, try okra and say "y'all" properly. Ain't happenin'. But I love spending time with them because they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Laughter being the key element in most of our conversations.

And then there's JT. I never realized until I met her that there could actually be another person in this world who was so much like me it's scary. But we have our differences, too, just like you, your best friend, and the rest of the world.

See the lesson here yet?

Yep, you guessed it. It's that character thing again.

Here's an exercise for you. Think about the people you are closest to - the ones you spend time with or correspond with most often. Get a sheet of paper and write their names down if you have to. We'll wait.

** Jeopardy theme music plays **

Okay, done? Now, look at your list and think about each of those people. How different are they - from each other? From you? See what I mean?

This is what we as writers have to do with our characters. We're not taking the dough of our cast list and pressing out people with a cookie cutter. Each character has to be as unique as the people you know. And in the spirit of staying with the topic at the top of this page, we'll go a step further. Just as we have relationships with our family, friends, lovers, fictional characters have relationships with each other ... whether it be as relatives, friends. In the case of crime fiction, partners or associates. Lovers in romance novels. Whatever the relationship between our characters, it has to be as real as the characters themselves. We have to remain true to the personalities of our people in the context of their interactions with each other.

Just as conflict is the engine that fuels good fiction (quote courtesy of my pal Julia Spencer-Fleming), individuality is the substance of good fictional characters.

I mean, really. Think about how boring the world would be if we were all the same. Vive le difference!

Read a book. And when you do, take an especially close look at the characters. Do you see them as real people? Are they different enough that they stand apart from each other? Has the writer succeeded at making them as unique as they can be?

This can be a discussion topic if you'd care to chime in - of your favorite writers, whose characters stand out in your mind as unique? What quirks does your favorite fictional hero have that set him/her apart from the rest of the world of which they are a part?

There are no wrong answers here ...

=) JB

The Honey-Do List

We had a parent conference a few weeks ago with Little Bit's teachers. The WGH made the comment that our daughter was "going to get in the box."

You know the whole box story, right? About how I'm so far out of the box that by the time I find it, the WGH has cleaned it? Well, our child has a few, shall we say, responsibility issues that she needs to work on. She's a smart kid - all my kids are smart, of course - but she lacks ... well, discipline.

This is genetic. I'll be the first to admit it - she gets it from me.

I'm an in-betweener. I'll do my chores, but I do them in between other things. I'll empty and reload the dishwasher while I'm watching the news or some other program on TV. Vacuum and take the trash out during commercials. I'll put in loads of laundry between cases while I'm working on the day job.

And when I'm writing? Huh. It's amazing I get anything done at all. Just let me finish this section and I'll put dinner on. Really.

With the new schedule comes a whole new perspective on getting things done. So I'm trying a new list. Work shift during the week is now 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (hint - don't call me during those times - especially at six in the morning when I'm really not coherent enough to remember my own name). When I finish the work shift, I check email and do the crossword puzzle. (Yeah, I like the crossword puzzle, so?) Next on the list is a quick visit to the Lunch Room - my endeavor to keep a regular schedule here, which most of the time and most fortunately puts me in the mood to write.

Then, I'll jump into the manuscript. I generally have at least 3-1/2 to 4 hours until I need to start thinking about dinner, which is about the time I used to finish up the work shift when I was working part-time. So it all balances out. Sort of. There's a little more play and wiggle room this time, because if dinner's not a major issue - which believe me, in this house, it's not - I don't really have to stop working on the book if I'm on a roll.

My self-imposed honey-do list today started with tackling squeaks. One of the pantry doors and one of the doors on the kitchen catch-all cabinet were squeaking to drive me crazy every time they were opened. Doesn't that make you nuts? You gotta love WD-40. We now have a squeak-free kitchen.

Of course, I did that between logging onto my email, downloading a new anti-spam filter and checking the regular mail.

I'm diving back into the manuscript now. Between chapters, I'm going to cook spaghetti.

Read a book. Which reminds me, I need to update the bookshelf over yonder. Check it out when you get the chance.

=) JB

Arts & Crafts

All that I desire to point out is the general principle that life imitates art far more than art imitates life.

A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.

-- Classic Quotes by Oscar Wilde, Irish writer and wit (1854-1900)

We say it all the time - writing is a solitary business. Critique groups aside, of course - I couldn't live without mine - short of collaboration, which some authors I know (yes, some personally) do quite effectively, we're writing these novels, short stories, plays, poems ... whatever ... alone. Like painters. Have you ever seen a work of art that was signed by two people? (Okay, if you have, great - but you're missing the point.) Painters use their craft to paint pictures with color, we writers use our craft to paint pictures with words, but at the end of the day it's our name and (with a few notable exceptions) only our name on the signature line.

It's what Stephen King calls 'the craft' [from his brilliant book, On Writing]. I call it arts and crafts, because what we do is as much art as it is craft. I sort of superimpose my philosophy on his - King says write the first draft with the door closed (the craft - your solitary time, when it's just you and the words), then rewrite with the door open (that's where the art comes in - you're sharing your ideas and getting input, perfecting the craft with the extra stuff that makes it art).

I haven't quite perfected the art of the whole door-closed/door-open thing yet. I'm far from being a beginner, but I'm constantly striving to make myself a better writer, and I'm one of those people who needs affirmation - and lots of it. But I know that when it comes down to it, I'm on my own, taking the images from my head and putting them down on virtual paper. I get input from everywhere, but no one else can express my thoughts quite like I can (except perhaps JT, but we'll set aside the whole Wonder Twin thing for the moment).

Or maybe not. How's that for a segue? Unless you've never been here, you know that JT and I are critique partners. The Wonder Twins - we call each other that because we're very in tune with each other. Sometimes we'll email each other with exactly the same thought at the same time. We're so much alike it's almost scary.

But not so much when it comes to our writing. Each of us has her own unique voice. JT writes forceful, vibrant thrillers; I write softer romantic suspense. Not quite polar opposites, but still very different.

When we're critiquing, though, we're familiar enough with each other's style that we can edit and make suggestions without imposing our own on the other - enough to imitate (but never duplicate) the other's voice. We know each other's characters well enough to say, "So-and-So would never say/do something like that, what were you thinking?" And we know when the words aren't quite what they should be, if something doesn't sound like it fits our style. JT has an incredible vocabulary, one to envy. She employs it effectively in her writing. Her prose is eloquent but direct, almost terse - she gets her point across without mincing words. Mine's a little more sinuous. Flowery, even (no, really?). I do go overboard sometimes, and that's when she steps in and says, ahem, that's just a bit stiff and awkward, sister. (The WMVR does that, too, when she goes through the manuscript as my "first reader" - she calls me "Madam Author" when I get too formal.)

At the moment I'm sort of stuck with the door half open, half closed. The first draft didn't fly far enough with either my Wonder Twin or my independent readers, so I'm changing the story, and it's turning out quite a bit different from what it was. It's a new draft, then, but I'm still getting feedback on what I'm writing. My push now is to get it done and ready to submit by the end of the year - the next round starts in January.

The industry is starting to cycle back into its tighter, more restrictive standards again, and it's all the more important to make this effort the best it can be. We're starting over here, in a sense. Those of you who know me and have been with me from the beginning are in for a bit of a surprise in the coming months, but I promise it will be a good one.

In the meantime, I'm getting back into the swing of things, plugging away at perfecting my craft. All hail the artist, but quietly, because she's working ...

Read a book. Admire the art and appreciate the craft. If you get something good out of it, then the artist has done her job.

=) JB

Sunday Funnies

I get several (okay, 14) comic strips in daily ezines from ArcaMax Publishing. On this lovely Sunday morning, I thought I'd share with you a few of my recent favorites.

You can probably guess why I liked this one:


This one reminded me of all those silly horror movies we used to watch when we were kids. Actually, if you know me at all, you know I didn't watch them (too chicken), but my friends did. You know the ones - where the "hero" or "heroine" is getting ready to go into a spooky looking place against what would be the better judgment of just about everyone else on the planet? The characters we dubbed "too stupid to live":


Cerebral humor. Right up my alley:


A typical day at my house:


More cerebral humor, and apropos:


Also typical at my house:


For those of you who have begun to worry about me (yet again), on the days that you miss me, just picture me sitting here in my study - either in this chair, slaving away at the manuscript, or in the other chair, slaving away at the day job. Seems that's all I do any more. But I'm here. And I do have email, so if you need to check on me, there's always that. ;)

At some point I will have a good enough grip on my new schedule that I will be able to start posting on a more regular basis. I might even be able to wax philosophic again. Update you on the writing. Say something intelligent, even.

Until then, I'll let the fine artists/writers above do the talking for me.

Read a book. It's good for you.

=) JB

Wonder Twin's Big Day

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!!!!!


It's here, it's here, it's here!!

You know, I remember a lot about the progress of this book - it all started with JT's phone call to me the day she "got the deal". As I recall, the conversation went something like this:

"It's me. I have some news."
"You're pregnant?"
[She laughs.] "No."
"You got a deal?!?"
"I got a deal."

It was a great day. And I know that for her, the last 18 months have been an incredible journey.

From my perspective, it's been a kick to watch her succeed like she has. And I'd like to think I contributed a tiny bit to that success, being the behind-the-scenes encouragement and on occasion the voice of reason and calm (yeah, I know what you're thinking - who, me??). To be fair, I'm not the only one who's done that for her, of course - she has lots of folks on her side and in the background, standing beside and behind her. I'm one of many. But still, I'm not sure anyone else can claim the title of Wonder Twin, so I get to bask in that glory just a little.

For her part, JT has done exactly the same for me (as have a lot of other folks, who are always on my acknowledgements page). And one of these days, Alice, I'll be where she is.

For the moment, however, this is her day ... the official release of ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS. So what are you waiting for? I'm always telling you to read a book, aren't I? Well, go get it!

And enjoy. It's a great read.

=) JB

Festivals and Photo Ops

The past two weekends I spent many glorious hours out in the fresh air and sunshine, much thanks to Mother Nature and the Benevolent Father who granted us such lovely weather. As promised, here are some picturas ...

Southern Festival


Our Sisters in Crime panel, featuring (from left to right) Beth Terrell, Mary Saums, E. Joan Sims and Lonnie Cruse






Our four lovely ladies again, at the Signing Colonnade after the panel:







The Killer Year crew plus the lovely Tasha Alexander (from left to right, Derek Nikitas, Marcus Sakey, J.T. Ellison, Tasha Alexander, Toni McGee Causey).







Scottish Festival. This past weekend, the WGH and I went to Stone Mountain National Park outside Atlanta, Georgia for the 35th Annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games.


Here's a shot of the Nashville Pipes & Drums, of which the WGH is a part:





Now, about the weather. Here's what it was like at Stone Mountain ... all blue sky and sunshine:









And now that we're back home, here's what we're getting and what we can expect in these parts off and on for the next four days (not that we're complaining!) ...





I hope you can see this video - it comes through for me but only when I look at it through the Blogger dashboard. Here's a still shot that might work.


Not to mention how badly we need it, there's something just cozy about holing up in the house with this going on outside. So here I am, working on the manuscript ... still.

Harry and I are getting back after it now ...

Read a book. Wonder Twin's All the Pretty Girls (to be released Wednesday) is getting some awesome feedback from early reports - order your copy today!

=) JB

B.I.C.*

Now that this is over (see "A Lovely Time Had By All", below), it's time for the real work to begin.

It's time for B.I.C., and I'm not talking about the pens.

*B.I.C. = Butt In Chair.

45,000 words into the rewrite of a 95,000-word novel and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it, but come you-know-what or high water, I'm going to get it finished. We are long overdue. The good news is, the stuff I'm bringing to group seems to be going over well. My Wonder Twin says the mechanics are there, which means - at least to me - that I've come quite a long way with my writing. No point of view issues, which I used to struggle with constantly. I finally get it. No gaping plot holes. So far.

So what's the problem?

Time, of course.

I'm not really sure I have aspirations that my writing will make me enough money to allow me to quit working altogether (although it's a nice dream/goal/hope), but it would be nice to make some decent money doing what I love most. I'm working toward the day when people ask me what I do for a living and I can say, "I'm a writer." Okay, yes, I do that now, but it's cheating a little because I have to qualify it with, "But I have a day job, too." And right now it's the day job that's getting in the way of what I really want to do.

It's a time management issue, of course. I've had to change my work hours, going back to full-time (i.e. eight hours a day), but lucky for me I still get to work at home, so when I finish the day job shift at 2:00 in the afternoon, it's a matter of seconds before I'm across the study and plugging away at the manuscript.

Theoretically speaking, it should be that easy. But I'm still settling in to the new schedule, and it's been a bit tough trying to get myself into this routine again, getting back into B.I.C. mode.

Fortunately, this weekend I was taking notes, and got a few good lessons under the ol' belt that should help.

A Lovely Time Had By All. This is what I'm talking about. I spent this past weekend in my element, hanging and schmoozing with some phenomenal people: Wonder Twin, The Goddess, Mr. Chicago, a Cajun beauty, and this really sweet guy and his gorgeous and equally sweet wife.

Now, there's a dynamic here that might set a few folks off kilter. Forgive me if you think I'm off base, but this is what I observed. I hosted three panels this weekend. The lovely ladies from my Sisters in Crime chapter who comprised our Sunday panel are all talented writers, and they love what they do, but to at least three of them, it's more for fun than profit. They all have jobs and write on the side.

To the other group, writing is the job. They consider it work, not just a hobby. It's what we bust our cans doing every day because it's our life, our passion. Me? My goal is to be hanging with this crowd. And hang with them I did. The weekend is a blur, but I know that I came out of it with a renewed affirmation of what it is I'm working toward.

I have pictures, but since it would only be fair to post them all at once, I'll have to wait and share them tomorrow, when I can do a little downloading from the digital camera.

In the meantime, I'm going to try to make tomorrow the official return to the land of B.I.C.

Wish me luck.

And read a book. It's good for you.

=) JB

Too Busy to Breathe

I got another one of those pointed emails from the Best Friend the other day - haven't seen the blog in a while, what's going on with you?

As an old friend of mine used to say, I'm busier than a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest.

Fortunately, at this point, I am winning. At least, I'm ahead.

Shall I encapsulate the events in my life over the past couple of weeks since I've graced the Lunch Room with the presence of its owner?

Okay, you asked for it ...

Orthodontia. Little Bit, the last Mohican, got her braces off yesterday. We now have three children with beautiful, orthodontically enhanced smiles, courtesy of the brilliant and talented orthodontist whose child is at the best Ivy League school in the country, courtesy of our checkbook. If you get that, you have had a child in braces.

Southern Festival of Books. The weekend is finally upon us. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday I will once again fall off the face of the earth (but really, you should be used to it by now) to mix and mingle with thousands upon thousands of book lovers from all over, teeming crowds filling the streets and venues of downtown Nashville.

This is called fun.

Really. See, for those of you who know me, you know how much I hate crowds. Hate. Them.

But Southern Festival is something big and vibrant and fun - it's my element, so to speak. I get around the crowds by concentrating on the fact that I am there for one reason and one reason only - to celebrate the written word. Which, conveniently enough, is the theme of the Festival. If you've never been, and you live here, you should go. It's amazing.

I'm sure I've mentioned this, but Sisters in Crime is hosting three fabulous panels this year, two in cahoots with the Killer Year bunch - my Wonder Twin helping organize things, of course - and one featuring our very own local author members (plus Joanie, but she's an honorary member anyway). And, we'll have our very own exhibitor's booth on the Plaza itself, promoting the heck out of Sisters in Crime. There you go, first plug of the weekend, and the weekend's not even here yet.

I'm going to be exhausted and glad when it's over, but that's certainly not going to keep me from enjoying myself because it's going to be great. More than great. Phenomenal. I'll give you a report when I come up for air. I might even take pictures - what a concept!

The Book. Through all this craziness of getting ready for SFB, I have [gasp!] been working on the manuscript. We're still in the throes of the major rewrite, but the first half is down and done. I'm hoping to have it finished in time to get it to JT so she can give it a quick read-through before she gets back into the swing of her own rewrite. The Wonder Twins are busy little writers these days - as are the rest of our BMWs writers' group, that talented bunch of lovely women we are so fortunate to call our own. Go, us!

The Parenting Thing. Yeah, that too. We've been through an incident in The Tall One's dorm (breathe, it's okay - she wasn't involved), band fiascos (again, my child - not involved), and growing pains. Being a mother on top of everything else isn't a burden, it's a joy. What keeps me sane.

Really.

Gotta get back to the butt kicking contest now. Thanks for sticking with me and for checking to make sure I'm still around. I'm here, lurking in the shadows. Watching.

Read a book. There are several on the shelf if you want to peruse ...

See you soon.

=) JB