Creating Modern Heat Characters
48 Comments August 1st, 2008 in Modern Heat, author, writing Posted by Amyby author Nicola Marsh
 Writing for Harlequin Modern Heat is a buzz! Now don’t get me wrong, I love writing for Harlequin Romance and too, with its emotionally rich, heroine-driven stories, but there’s something about Modern Heat that brings out my fun, flirty side 
So how do I create my Mod Heat characters? With Romance, the heroine always speaks to me first but with my Mod Heats’s, I find the hero standing tall and grabbing my attention from the outset.
The way I see it, the Mod Heat hero is commanding, strong, wealthy, a successful alpha guy at the top of his game and proud of it! He’s the type of guy I’d look twice at: think George Clooney, Pierce Brosnan, Wentworth Miller –Â the suave, sexy type with a brooding edge.
A guy like that deserves a strong woman, a modern gal who knows what she wants and itsn’t afraid to go out there and grab it — with both hands!
When I’m casting my Mod Heat characters, these are the qualities I focus on:
HERO:
- Alpha
- Rich
- Respected profession
- Charismatic
- Confident
- Gorgeous (goes without saying!)
- Underlying hint of vulnerability beneath core of steel
- Determined (usually to have the heroine)
- Driven to succeed (in all aspects of life)
- Passionate (about everything)
HEROINE:
- Young-ish (early to late twenties)
- Independent
- Modern outlook
- Hip
- Cosmopolitan
- Flirty
- Aware (of what she wants out of life and how to get it)
- Inner strength (happy to drive the relationship, be in control even when the alpha guy thinks he is!)
- Seeking relationship (while the Mod Heat heroine has a modern outlook, enjoys sex and values her independence, ultimately she wants a relationship, with the stability of marraige and babies a distinct possibility in her future.)
- Values her friends/relatives
- Urban interests (cafes, restaurants, movies, bars, clubs, theatre, museums, shopping)
I like my Hod Heat heroines creative, hence their occupations: Ariel in Mistress to the Tycoon is an artist in the boho centre of Melbourne, Tahnee in Two-Week Mistress is a children’s book illustrator, Kate in Purchased for Pleasure is a magazine editor, Abby in Hot Nights with a Playboy is a fashion stylist and Beth in the upcoming The Boss’s Bedroom Agenda is a metal sculptor.
See a pattern? Each heroine has a distinct modern edge, a job that will give her loads of space to have fun, be creative, and in vivid contrast to the super successful, strong alpha hero she falls for.
So how do I creat my Mod Heat characters?
Keeping the above qualities in mind, I flesh out the hero that has strutted into my imagination first:
- What does he think he wants? (external goal)
- What does he really want? (internal goal)
- Why does he think the heroine’s unsuitable?
- What’s his problem when the story starts?
- How will it get worse?
- List 5 qualities that characterise him.
And I do the same for the heroine.
Along with the basic characterisation, I like to delve deeper, discover what really makes these characters tick in an effort to bring them alive.
Lately, I’ve been collaging before I start too, which is fun and sets the mood even though I’m not a visual writer and once it’s tacked onto my corkboard over my PC I rarely look at it again!
But I’m all for anything that sets the mood and for some reason, I find myself surrounded by magazine tear-outs of sensational shoes when I write my Mod Heats.
Bizarre? Maybe. Little wonder Beth in The Boss’s Bedroom Agenda has a serious shoe fetish. And there’s that scene with Abby, the red shoes and little else in Hot Nights with a Playboy…
Maybe a case of the author living vicariously through her fun, flirty Mod Heat heroine?
Whatever works for you, have fun creating your Mod Heat characters.
Make them strut their stuff, come alive and march straight into your readers’ hearts.
Happy writing,
Nicola
http://www.nicolamarsh.com/
Nicola’s most recent North American releases were The Desert Prince’s Proposal (Harlequin Romance) and Mistress to the Tycoon (Harlequin Presents Extra).
Hi Nicola,
Well, when you put it like that, it’s easy to see why the authors of Modern Heat have such fun writing these stories.
I’m saying yes so enthusiastically to everything you’ve listed that I’m beginning to sound a little like Meg Ryan from that famous scene in When Harry Met Sally!!
I especially love the point about the heroine’s inner strength. There’s nothing more exciting to grip you than a woman who’s so in control that she can hide it, thus allowing the Hero to imagine he’s controlling everything. Cos when he reaslises just who’s pulling the strings we get to feel his emotion jumping off the page. It’s brilliant and it’s something to remember for sure when us aspiring writers are creating characters that we hope will be real people.
You’re list of his ‘requirements’ has inspired me further, I’m so in love with the man inside my head at the moment that’s it not funny. That’s a wicked feeling indeed!
Cheers,
Aideen.
LOL Aideen,
yes, yes, yes!!!
I think inner strength is a key for the heroine.
No matter what crazy, out of control things are happening in her life (mainly the hero!) she still knows who’s the boss
And if you love your hero and translate him to the page, your readers will fall in love with him too
Nicola
Hi Aideen – it is great to hear that these blogs are inspiring you!
Hi Nic,
And its great to see you here again Aideen.
THis is a great post. Love that list of your heros’ qualities and attributes, Nic. Only wish I could be as organised as you in the dreaming up of my characters. Perhaps when I’ve written as many fabulous books as you have, I’ll know immediately which great triggers to go for.
At the moment with me it’s more of a case of listening for the voices in my head.
Yes, yes, I know what you’re thinking, and I freely admit it. Psychotic, course it is! But unless I KNOW THEIR NAMES (and don’t even begin to ask me what I go through to come up with them. They are magic. They have POWER) and can hear my heroine’s voice in particular, I’m in a bind.
And the terrible thing is, I often can’t really hear either of them until I’ve written them into at least a couple of scenes!
But how, I hear you ask, do I write those scenes if I can’t hear the voices first? The answer is I don’t know. I just DONT KNOW!!!! How any of it ever gets onto the page is a complete mystery to me. And terrifying.
However, your collage idea does strike a chord. IN my current book, I’ve chosen to place my heroine’s home in the Sydney suburb of Newtown. So the other day, thinking about street trees in Newtown, as one does, and living quite a few k’s from that little neck of the woods, I went on a little net trawl to see if I could find out what the most common tree plantings are in that suburb, and to my supreme joy I found some council photos of current Newtown street trees.
Wow. THis acted like magic for me. Straight away the images gave me a small soupcon of certainty about the locale I was creating, and the ideas for my story started popping. It all came to vibrant life in my head, just from a few blurry shots of some plane trees. (Love them, of course. Maybe that helped fire my imagination.)
Isn’t it amazing how the brain works, and how we all find our inspirations in different ways?
What works for you, Aideen, in creating your characters? Do you start with the names, the occupations, or the situation, or…?
anna
PS. I’m glad you mentioned Wentworth Miller, Nic. I seem to recall you found him quite inspirational there at one time. What about Daniel MacPherson? Should we add him to that list?
Anna,
you’re letting out far too many of my trade secrets
But now it’s out…Wentworth was my Navy SEAL in ‘Purchased for Pleasure’…and yes, I do have loads of pics of him on my website
A gal can’t have too much inspiration, right?
My latest is Eduardo Verastegui.
Oh my.
If you want to see what I mean, check out my website or blog.
He’s Zac in Two Weeks in the Magnate’s Bed (out next March.)
The guy is hot!!!
But I digress
And my bub has woken so going to make this quick before hitting the sack.
Anna,
my list might look impressive but can I admit, I tend to just go with the characters as they pop into my head?
Writing this blog helped clarify a few points for me too
And firing the imagination is what writing is all about
Using what works best for you, feeding the inspiration, letting the creative process work its magic.
I love it
Right, I’m babbling now, time for bed. If this little man of mine ever goes to sleep.
Tell me when the little cherubs are supposed to sleep through the night?
OMG. I see what you mean!
Heck. Now that’s what I call inspiration. And there was I looking at street trees!
anna
LOL about the trees Anna!!!
I love that list of attributes too Nic, found myself nodding along all the way down the list. At this stage I’m a cross between you and Anna – more often than not the characters just walk into my head fully formed and usually arguing with each other – I just have to find out about them – and that’s where using a tool your list of questions is great. Of course, most of the time I don’t find out all about them until I’ve written a whole rough draft – and then I have to go back and start over fully informed!!! My rough drafts are ROUGH too – am about to head back and do the real work in round 2 on my wip and am procrastinating…pictures of Eduardo are great to procrastinate with…
I KNOW, Anna!
Kinda beats the street trees hands down
Nat,
I love hearing how other authors work, their writing processes.
What’s a rough first draft for you?
How rough are we talking?
Hey Nic, Anna and Nat and Aideen of course!
Thanks Nic for fabulous insight into how you breathe your characters to life.
I’ve written the first three chaps of my new wip and thought I knew the characters well but I get to chap four and they’ve stopped talking to me…I’m plouging on…
So Nat… I’m also very interested to hear more about your rought drafts. How rough are we talking? What do you do in the second round to embellish and enhance?
Thanks ladies…
RACH!
You’re welcome, Rach
I know what you mean about the first three chapters.
I get a rush writing those first three, they pour out then it’s like ‘hmmm…time to really up the stakes, layer the conflict, up the emotion…’ and keep it going for the rest of the book!!!
I’m glad you mentioned the Ploughing On Syndrome, Rach, and I’m impressed that you CAN.
THis is the point, when my muse deserts me and all my hope dries up, at which I become a nervous wreck and ready to jump off the nearest bridge. For me, and I stress that this is just moi–and we have to remember that every single one of us is a unique speciman–whenever I do just plough on, I never like the words. They just don’t ring. They’re as flat as a board.
In my fragile case, I need to be connected to my muse.
So how do I find her again? I cook dinner, weed the garden, go to the shops and look at Italian shoes. Eavesdrop on people’s conversations in coffee shops. Meet friends. Take an afternoon to look at things completely apart from the story. And amazingly–and I NEVER expect it–I’m always so surprised–an idea pops into my head and I know she’s back.
Then I’m away again.
A lot of people are perfectly able to recover their inspiration by ploughing through the hard bits, then coming back later to polish them up, and I wish I was one of them!
How about you, Nic. Is it true you can write 2000 words on tap every night in two hours? I’m sure I read that somewhere.
Crikey!
What about you Nat? Does your inspiration ever take a little holiday and toddle off to town?
I’m glad you mentioned the Ploughing On Syndrome, Rach, and I’m so impressed you CAN.
Whenever my muse disappears and my words dry up, I’m a nervous wreck and could jump off the nearest bridge. Ploughing on just doesn’t do it for me. When I try that, I NEVER like the words. They lie dead on the page, as flat as a board.
So what do I do about it?
Cook dinner, weed the garden, go to the shops and obsess over Italian shoes, meet friends, eavesdrop on conversations in coffee shops–take an afternon to forget about my story . And when I least expect it,–and I never do, I’m always so surprised– when I’m a million miles away from it in my head, an idea pops in, and I know my muse is back.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I know I’m a particular psychotic case and everyone has a unique way of approaching this situation.
I wish I COULD be one of those lucky people who can work through the hard bits, then come back and revivify them later.
How about you, Nic? Is it true you can just plug yourself in every night and write 2000 words in two hours, no worries? God, how I envy that! But we’ve seen the fantastic results. THat navy seal in PURCHASED FOR PLEASURE was certainly a product of divine and unflagging inspiration.
And you Nat? Does your inspiration ever take a little holiday and toddle off to town?
(Nah, I don’t think so, she said to herself , shaking her head. The girl who created Jake Rendel has never lacked for inspiration.)
Oh Rach and Nic, we’re talking ROUGH – we’re talking sentences ending mid-word, dialogue with no quote marks. No beats or description – JUST dialogue for pages – with some emo too – all the important, crunchy, talking and action that drives the story as they vent and clash. I work fast and frantic and as I can barely type there are typos everywhere as my fingers fall over each other.
My roughs are nowhere near the final word count but they’re my way of finding out the story and the characters – even tho I have a plan – its the dialogue that comes first. Then I can go back and bascially rewrite around it. This round I put in the physical beats and description – ie where they are and what they’re doing and what they’re thinking and flesh out why it is they’re saying what they’re saying and what they meant to be saying etc. This is where I can spent three plus hours on one page :S
Its not til a round or two later that I get to polishing and enhancing. Then panicking that its all rubbish – LOL
But at the end it seems to work for me – how do you do it Nic?
Nic, FABULOUS list! I’m printing this out and putting it in my ‘How to’ file.
Hi Joanne and Aideen and Anna and Nat and Rach! Isn’t it weird and wonderful how we each have our own writing rituals. I’ve tried to write a rough first draft, but instead I find myself going over and over the first 3 or 4 chapters. That’s how I get to know my characters and then I’m off! I have ripped out pages from mags of my heroes and heroines, but not often. (Nic, can we add Gerard Butler to the list? He’ll be hurt if we don’t
)
Rach, like Nic said, if you’re stuck on ch 3, have a good look at your conflict, the layering, and throw in a spanner.
Great discussion!!
Robbie
Hi Nicola,
Great post!
I attended one of your library talks back in Feb (just before I sent off my Instant Seduction entry) and later wished I’d thought to ask how find writing for two very different lines. I think you’ve answered my question in terms of characters, but what about plots? Do you just write the story that “pops into your head” and hope the next one isn’t in a similar vein?
Robyn
PS. Can I second the motion to add Gerard Butler to the list?
Wow Nat, that’s so interesting!
I like the thought of fast and frantic, just letting those words flow out.
I’m a dialogue gal too, absolutely love it, and that’s what comes to me first, so clearly about my characters.
But I have to admit, I’m a bit of a perfectionist.
I like my first draft to be pretty darn good so the next run through is basically layering colours and senses and finding the exact word I couldn’t first time around.
I don’t jump around with scenes either, I write it from start to finish.
I sound a bit boring, don’t I?
Glad you liked the list, Robbie
And I agree, writing rituals fascinate me.
Anyone else care to share how you write?
Hi Robyn,
great to see you here.
Which talk were you at? I did 4 within a few weeks, the whole romance and Valentine’s Day thing
With plots, no two stories are alike so I guess I don’t have to worry that the next is going to be the same.
Within category romance there are ‘hooks’ such as marriage of convenience, secret baby, fake engagement, etc…and if you read Mod Heats (and across series) you’ll discover a whole range of fabulous twists on these hooks.
I love writing for the Romance and Modern Heat series, as while they are the same in many ways (in the emotional development of the characters towards a satisfying ending), I love the differences too (MH more fun, flirty tone whereas Romance is richly emotional.)
I’m lucky writing for both and I love it
Anna – I’m actually really glad you mentioned that you CAN’T plough on.
I try to plough on cos I think that’s what I’m supposed to do if I ever wanna get there, but the words are inevitably crap when I do this. More and more I’m thinking that when I’m in a rut, it’s better to take a break and do some ‘research’ (i.e. read, eat chocolate, watch a movie or go shopping). So thanks for letting me know that even fabulously brilliant writers (I’ve just finished My Tall, Dark Greek Boss and LOVE LOVE LOVED it) sometimes feel the need to take a break!
RACH!
Hi Nicola,
I was at your talk in Dandenong.
I don’t think I asked my question clearly; what I meant was do you write one MH then one Sweet Romance etc. or, depending on inspiration, does it vary? If, for example, a whole bunch of MH characters/plots bombarded your brain how would you “file” them to concentrate on a Romance ms? (Anna isn’t the only one with voices in her head– but sometimes I wish mine wouldn’t all talk at once!)
Robyn
Hi everyone,
Another great post. So interesting and very helpful for us aspiring writers.
Well Joanne, I’m sure you’d agree that it would be hard NOT to be inspired by all this brilliant Modern Heat talk.
I’m never sure exactly where my ideas come from, or how the people in my head even come to be. But its usually a line from a song, or something someone will say in an interview that starts me off on a story. I love that ‘get going’ feeling.
Who said RUSE? Natalie, I’m thinking I read this on your site and it’s brilliant advice…if only I could take it!!!! I have a serious problem with self editing, I can’t work on if I know I’ve made a spelling mistake.
And yes, please do add Gerard Butler. And Viggo Mortenson.
And anyone else you feel might be worthy of inspiring Modern Heat writers.
Aideen.
Rach,
If things get tough for me, I resort to trusty pen and paper.
By jotting down where my story is heading, even if it’s a line to sum up each chapter, I find that can get the creative juices flowing again and point me in the right direction.
That said, chocolate is never a bad diversion either
Ah, you were at my first talk, Robyn
To answer your question, I do write one Romance then a Mod Heat and alternate.
May sound silly, but I’ve almost trained my brain to concentrate on the book at hand and it’s a nice change to swap between the series. eg. if I’ve finished a particularly emotional Rom, it’s lovely to have a fun, flirty Mod Heat to look forward to.
But if those characters are clammering (we all know how stubborn some can be!!) I jot down points in my plot book, anything that comes to mind, so those characters can have their say next time around.
I don’t write 2 books at once. Would find it terribly distracting.
I love that ‘get going’ feeling too, Aideen. Nothing like it
And those heroes will be added to our growing Mod Heat list!
Rach, researching some aspect of your story can be a fantastic way to start the creative juices flowing. Look more deeply into their background, their likes and dislikes, maybe even interview a professional/expert in their field. Before you know it, themes are developing and plot branches growing that you hadn’t known existed!
Robbie, off to tell Gerry the good news
Aideen – I don’t think RUSE was me sadly! But I’m one who HAS to get rid of the self-editing thing or I’d never finish a thing – I guess that’s why I do that whole ’stream-of-consciousness’ rough kind of pre-writing for a few weeks – to find the characters/story/emotion etc and not worry about how it looks.
Nic I’m super impressed – you really write from A to Z and don’t hop about? I’m always afraid I’ll forget something if I don’t scroll down a bit and add it in then and there!
I’m a perfectionist too but I know that I can’t do a perfect first draft – that’s impossible for me and I’d cripple myself trying. And I can’t put in all the clues if I don’t know where my characters are going. And the thing about my rough mess is allowing those typos – its kind of liberating – the important bit is finding the heart of the thing – and the conflict. Going back its a whole other story – writing/rewriting/deleting/rewriting every sentence – but then I know in my head exactly how I want it to be so I can try to relax and take my time over it. If I didn’t know that, I’d be panicking (I’m a ‘need to know’ kind of person, which is probably why I read the end of a book first!)
Rach, I think everyone has to take a break sometimes – long, hot showers, an early night to bed – or a 24 hour reading bender… Robbie I’m liking that research aspect idea… does looking at pictures count?!
Anna – REVIVIFY???!!! BIG giggle. As for inspiration toddling off? Ideas are always there. Confidence goes away for months at a time – that’s the bit I have to plough on thru. But every writer I know is the same
Hi Nat,
Went back over your babble section on your web page and yes, you did mention RUSE, but not actually on your own account. It’s Donna Alward who quotes Resist the Urge to Self Edit!!! RUSE. Fantastic I think. So, you might not have been the brains behind it but you are promoting it!!!
Aideen.
Oh thanks Aideen – so Donna said it – she’s given me heaps of good advice
I guess its just about finding what works for you and understanding that its a constantly evolving process. Someone like Nic, who has almost 20 books to her name, is going to be able to sit down and write very tight and polished first off, whereas someone with less experience probably isn’t. All we can do is keep trying, right?
Wow, this is a beaut little discussion.
I’m so glad that when I first posted and it didn’t show up– so I REWROTE it and posted it again with some edits,( including that fabulous word revivivy (think Dracula, Nat, think mummies coming out of the tomb with their shrouds trailing))well I’m so GLAD both versions are up here for all the world to see. Sorry folks if I seem to get stuck on a topic!
Anyway, I wish I could just do what you do, Nat. Get the story down, then come back to polish.
RUSE would be good for me, if it weren’t for my obsession with not leaving a chapter till it sings. I edit as I go–it means several days sometimes on one scene, and that includes the time spent switching back to previous chapters as new ideas occur to me, and reshaping the story as I go along.
By the time I get to the end–and it takes a LONG time–I pretty well have it the way I want it. Just have to flick through again for a final realignment of minor details, or words or phrases that wouldn’t come to me at the time so I may have left a dotted line.
And thank you so much Rach. I’m glad you liked MY TALL DARK GREEK BOSS.
I had to laugh at a friend of mine who read it. She said, ‘IT was clever, although Ellie wasn’t really a feminist, was she?’
I’ve been puzzled ever since. Why wasn’t Ellie a feminist, I ask myself. Was it because she ended up marrying a guy? Or because she wanted a baby? Or because she fell in love? How did she fail the feminist test?
I still don’t know.
Wait until she reads the next one. Now that girl is definitely a feminist.
Hi Nicola,
A plot book! I must organise myself one of those.
Here I was letting all of the characters have their say all of the time; who knew they ought to give a speedy overview then take a number and wait their turn?
Thanks for answering,
Robyn
Hey gals
It’s so interesting reading about all your different writing methods…. Just wondering, since you are all so different, how long does it take to actually get a finished product. By this I mean good enough to send off to your editor, not including their revisions etc. In other words, how long does an editor give you to complete a book?
Thanks again for your willingness to answer questions!
RACH!
Wow, I get back here this morning and the place is jumping!
“How about you, Nic? Is it true you can just plug yourself in every night and write 2000 words in two hours, no worries? God, how I envy that! But we’ve seen the fantastic results. THat navy seal in PURCHASED FOR PLEASURE was certainly a product of divine and unflagging inspiration.”
Now Anna, are you implying I’m fibbing?
Don’t know about plugging myself in but the thought of paying all those bills and mortgage and 26 years worth of school fees does tend to have a motivating affect for me
But yes, I do this every night. I find the more I write, the faster I get. That said, some books are waaaaay easier than others, those magical stories that fly from our fingertips whereas others…hmmm…need I say more?
My Navy SEAL is a fave of mine.
That was actually the 4th book I ever wrote, when I was ‘finding my voice’. Mind you, I had to do some major rewriting to make it fit Mod Heat but nothing like a guy in uniform for me…or out of it
Yes, Nat,
sad case that I am, I do write from A to Z.
I love everything in sequential order and find the characters taking all sorts of unusual turns along the way.
Mind you, I usually jot down a few key scenes (usually a sentence) if I get stuck so I know where the book is heading but I can’t jump around.
Would you believe I used to be worse? I’d need the exact word before continuing but now I leave a highlighted line and get back to it in the editing process.
RUSE is good.
I used to be terrible at this, tending to edit the last few pages before starting work for the night but not anymore.
It slows you down waaaay too much.
Just jump in there, get those words out, plenty of time later to polish and tighten
Oops, sorry Aideen, that last one was in response to your comment!
Heck, Nat, I had to re-read that bit about 20 books…then it suddenly hit me, I am almost there! Can’t tell you what a spin out that is…I still feel like I only just sold my first book!
With writing tight and polished the first time, I think it has more to do with writing style than experience.
Many authors who’ve sold loads more books don’t write sequentially, they write bits’n'pieces of scenes then piece them all together at the end.
I reckon whatever works for you, do it
Robyn,
a plot book is definitely the way to go.
Get a nice fancy notebook, makes it feel that extra special
And sorts out those characters into line waiting their turn
Rach,
I think you’ve asked 2 questions there, deadlines and how long the writing process takes?
With deadlines, it depends on a variety of factors. How many books a year an author can physically write, available slots, number of books contracted, etc…
As for how long it takes to get a finished produce ready to send off to an editor, can I say this is like asking ‘how long is a piece of string?’
For me, every book is different. I’ve had books like Two-Week Mistress fly from my fingers in just over that time (3 weeks for the first draft, another week to edit then send.) whereas others take longer.
It also depends on what’s happening life-wise at the time. If kids are sick or teething, or other family stuff intervenes, the book will take longer.
In ‘perfect’ conditions, my average is 4-6 weeks.
Mind you, been a while since I’ve had ‘perfect’ conditions!!!
I’m amazed to see just how differently you all approach writing.
Nicola, to be able to sit yourself down and write 2000 words in a specific time slot is mind boggling. Oh to be able to do that.
My biggest problem when I sit down to write isn’t really plot or character related. I think I’m more or less ok with those aspects.
I find that when I write I lose faith in myself half way through. Why?
Because inevitably you end up comparing your work with that of those authors you admire. And this is a problem in itself.
I have to remind myself that I’m not writing complete crap, and that the women I admire are published and I need to learn to be kinder to myself. It takes time and maybe the effort will all be worth it in the future, p.G.
Anyway, if ye all still feel like answering questions, how about someone telling me how they ’structure’ their book? I mean, does anyone literally write and see where the characters take them or are there writers out there who know exactly what each chapter is going to contain?
And how about the rest of you unpublished out there? Do you find yourself struggling when you’ve just finished reading another fabulous Modern Heat and wonder why the hell you’re even trying???
Rach, Robyn, any advice on what gets you through the above type moments?
Aideen.
Aideen, I think all writers have moments of self-doubt. How could it be otherwise, when we’re sensitive, creative people with very active imaginations?
I’m sure everyone here will appreciate what you say about being momentarily demoralised when you read another writer’s fantastic work.
I for one am thoroughly daunted by the brilliance of my fellow Mod-Heat authors.
I read my first Mod Heat the day after I sold my first book. It was Kelly Hunter’s ‘Bedded for Diamonds’, and I thought ‘Oh my God. This is wonderful. I’ll never compete with this.’ From the first word to the last it was a work of absolute art.
But I’ve come to the realisation since that I’m not in competition. Each one of us is a unique artist in her own right, doing her best for our line.
And every so often, when you least expect it, some stranger you’ve never heard of writes to you or posts a message to the world, exclaiming over how much she loved your last book. It gives you such a fantastic boost you float along on Cloud 89 thinking, ‘Hey, I must be all right too!’
As for structure, I’m afraid that in my case its all in the air. I have a loose outline of where it’s going, (have to give that to my editor) but I don’t know every detail until it unfolds. The thing is, I know that some part of my brain DOES know where it’s going, it just won’t tell me up front. Thank goodness I can usually recognise at the finish of a chapter when its exactly right for how it needs to be to progress the story along.
And Nic. ‘Course I know you’re not fibbing. I’m just awed, babe. Wish I could do it.
Hi Aideen,
Easier said than done, but I try to avoid direct comparisons between what I’m writing and the newest book from one of my FAV authors. I find it more constructive to compare two pieces of my own work (something old against my new WIP) and if there’s an improvement over time then I know I’m making progress!
What works for me is to read a whole bunch of books and then look at them collectively and aim into that ballpark… even if that ballpark does, at times, appear miniscule and miles away.
As for ‘losing faith in yourself halfway through’ I think an honest crit partner or group is invaluable.
Robyn
Anna,
It’s lovely to read that even the published authors such as yourself feel the odd twinge of self doubt. And yes, I suspect every writer does at one time or another. But the way you put it, that your not in competition with the others, rather you bring your own unique voice to the line goes a long way to making me feel better. So thank you for that.
As for your structure, I love it!! I’m thinking it’s quite similar to how I scope out my ideas. Bones first, fill in the flesh later. That is if I can get past my earlier problem of editing every single word I write.
And Robyn,
Such simple logical advice, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. I spent the last half hour going back over previous attempts and I have to admit that I think what I’m writing at the moment is definitely a step up, lots of improvement as far as I can see. I adore your idea of aiming into that ‘ballpark’, it’s basically what I’m doing but you’ve made me see things a lot clearer here!!
This site is very helpful and I’m grateful we can all hang out here. There’s nothing like encouragement and friendly words from around the world.
Aideen.
Sorry,
would’ve popped back sooner but the dreaded flu has hit me and my kiddies badly.
Ear infections, chest infections, conjunctivitis, sore throats, you name it, we have it!
Aideen,
doubts plague all writers, pubbed and unpubbed alike (in fact, I’m writing an article on this very topic as we speak. Onces it’s pubbed in the magazine, I’ll post it on my website.)
As for structuring, I used to be a complete plotter but have evolved the more I write.
I still like to have a good idea of what my characters are like, their backgrounds and conflicts.
Then I write.
The first 3 chapters fly, even the next 3, then things can become a little ’stuck’
I then resort to trusty pen and paper to jot down key scenes/one sentence summary of each chapter, so I have an idea where the book is heading.
I find this really helps me, gives me a new kickstart!
Anna,
you’re a true ‘pantser’
Great advice, Robyn!