Fun, Fun, Fun

Yesterday, my friend Kristan Higgins and I presented a fun workshop that pitted plotters against pantsers. What the heck is a pantser you might ask? Well, that'd be me. While Kristan plots out each of her books, I write by the seat of my pants—no outline, no notes, no rhyme, no reason (at least none that I can document). Which way is the right way? YOUR WAY is the right way. In other words, as we told the attendees at the Connecticut Romance Writers Chapter, whatever works for each individual writer is the correct way to write a book.

To be honest, Kristan's way gives me a rash. My way gives her heart failure. Last year, I sat through a plotting workshop at a chapter meeting in which the author demonstrated her in-depth method of plotting, complete with worksheets and diagrams. My skin felt hot, my heart raced, and if it wasn't such a rude thing to do, I would've left. I want to learn. I want to be a better writer. I just don't want to hear about things that will never apply to me because they make me feel inadequate. I'm also very protective of my process. It works for me. I don't want to "infect" it with anything that will cause me to doubt it. Writers, like other creative types, are odd in more ways than one. I protect the writing. I protect myself. I protect what works for me.

When we were preparing for our workshop, Kristan made a great point—a real ah-ha moment for me. "Everyone plots," she said. Some do it with color-coded worksheets and others (like me) do it in their heads. But everyone plots. As someone who didn't think she did much plotting, I had to concede that Kristan was right about that. I've talked before about mindless tasks being my friends. Vacuuming, raking leaves, driving, washing dishes, showering, drying my hair—that's when I do the majority of my plotting. When I was close to finishing my fifth MS, I was stuck on how the ending should unfold. I knew what needed to happen. I just couldn't figure out how to make it work. I got out the vacuum, and by the time my house was clean, I had figured out what to do. It's not color coded and it's not done in advance of the writing, but it is plotting.

Thank you to CTRWA for your hospitality and to Kristan for being a lovely ying to my yang.

Mindless Tasks

Mindless tasks are my friend. I've had some of my best plot breakthroughs while doing dishes, taking a shower, drying my hair or vacuuming (a particular favorite). Today, it was raking leaves. I hardly ever do yard work. That tends to be Cliff Claven's department, but I needed to trash my dying impatiens, and it was a perfect day for getting outside. As I worked, I puzzled some plot issues I've been having with my WIP.

True to my process, whenever the plot stops coming, I read the book from the beginning. I did that this weekend, and as usual, it got the juices flowing again. After I was done reading, I sat in a quiet room for a while and thought my way through the remainder of the book. I made a mental list of things that need to happen. I thought about the romance between my hero and heroine and how I wanted it to progress in book 2 of their series. Today, while raking leaves, I came up with the absolute perfect ending for this book. Now I can't wait to write it.

In the great debate of plotters vs. seat-of-the-pantsers (that's me), my friend Kristan Higgins recently made a great point. Everyone plots. Some do it on paper, some do it with storyboards, and others, like me, do it in their head. As I pulled plants and raked leaves, I was plotting. I didn't realize it until I got back to the computer and the words were just there, to the tune of 3,000 words for the day. The end is in sight. I've got my mojo back. Oh, and the front yard is temporarily free of leaves. Two birds, one stone.

Election Day!

Yes, of course I voted! It was easier for me than most since the polling place is within walking distance of my house. Jake (my 10-year-old) went with me and came right into the booth with me to watch the whole thing. This is the first election our kids have had a real interest in. Going back to the endless primaries, Jake kept asking if we had a new president yet. He just couldn't believe the whole thing took this long (neither can the rest of us, right?) Emily watched the debates with interest and asked intelligent questions throughout the process.

Both the middle and elementary schools held elaborate mock elections. In both cases, Barack Obama was the winner, which is not surprising in this very blue state of Rhode Island. While most of us are thrilled the endless campaign is over, it has been an exciting election. We can only hope that better days are ahead for our country.

Update from yesterday: I finished Catch of the Day by my friend Kristan Higgins. I laughed, I cried, I LOVED it. Make sure you pick up a copy!

What I'm Reading

I'm about half way through CATCH OF THE DAY by RITA winner (and my friend) Kristan Higgins. I love it! If you haven't read it, I'd recommend you run right out and buy it. COTD is a great story about an unlucky-in-love heroine who has one disastrous date after another while nursing a very public crush on the local Catholic priest. After a few laugh out loud dates, she stumbles into a relationship with an unlikely hero. I can't wait to read Kristan's other books!

I've also recently enjoyed books by my Casablanca sisters: The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary, Romeo Romeo by Robin Kaye and Dating Da Vinci by Malena Lott. What do these books and COTD have in common? They're all contemporaries and are what I gravitate to as a reader and a writer. Some of my friends write paranormal, and I buy the books to support them. I read them and usually enjoy them, but if I didn't know the authors, I wouldn't be tempted. I've decided that it's my suspension of disbelief muscle. It's the one muscle in my body that's well toned. I have trouble making the leap from the world I live in to the paranormal world. Even though it's not my genre of choice as a reader, I have tremendous respect for paranormal authors because of the work that goes into the building a believable make believe world. I'm looking forward to reading my friend Kendra Leigh Castle's second book, Dark Highland Fire, next.

The other book I've really loved recently is Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas, who I met at RWA Nationals this summer when she signed my copy. This was Lisa's first foray into contemporary, and while it wasn't a true romance (until the very end) I really enjoyed the book. I'm looking forward to reading her second contemporary, Blue-Eyed Devil, soon.

What are you reading? Do you tend to gravitate toward one genre to the exclusion of all others? Or do you genre hop?