Victoria Alt is a writer who is aspiring to
break into the world of Romance publication. Follow her journey through
manuscript completions, submissions, the knock downs and all the
successes that happen along the way.
I'm a big believer that if you are going to write, you have to sit your butt in the chair and just write. You cannot wait for the muse to show up first. Now, saying that, I also believe that sometimes, you must let an idea brew for a while before you begin to write.
Take my latest manuscript for instance. I have had the story idea worked out and outlined for the last two months. However, I only just began writing it. The reason was that I did not yet have the voice I wanted to tell the story. Then, while lying in bed, waiting for sleep to take over, it came to me in a line, and subsequently, a title for the new work.
Being the somewhat obsessive person I am, I got out of bed and made my way to my office. Grabbing a piece of paper, I scribbled out the line and the title and left it on my desk. I now had found the voice of my story and felt ready to begin writing.
And I could begin writing. I had already mapped out the characters and conflicts they would face throughout the manuscript. The chapters were all set up and the resolutions in place. Even without the voice, I could still work out the bones and structure of my manuscript. Now with the voice firmly secured in my mind, I can incorporate it into my work and give it life.
Already today, I've written a couple thousand words and I'm still eager for more. So, in short, don't wait for inspiration to hit you before you begin to work. You may need it to begin writing but you don't need it to formulate a plan of attack once it does.
Well, I'm working on the new romance manuscript, and this time, I plan to set it up in more detail before I begin. That means a general outline and lots of opportunity for conflict to arise. What I am hoping this will do is create many different sub-plots, on top of the main one, for me to use to really flesh out this story. Since my word counts tend to come up short on first drafts, I'm looking for an avenue to create more words, while still telling a good romantic tale.
In a nutshell, what follows is the general idea of the new work in progress:
When Natalie Russell's secret love affair with her boss, Brett Williams, is exposed after a tragic accident, things go from bad to worse. Natalie must learn how to handle Brett's grief, his unresolved conflicts with his ex-wife and the snide comments emitting form their co-workers. To top things off, Natalie must also deal with Brett's mother, who is hell-bent on keeping the newfound couple apart - at any cost.
Utmost and foremost, you must love Romance to be able to write a romance novel. Before you even begin to write romance, take the time to read many, and every kind, of romance novel that you can.
Choose from the different categories of Romance novels from historical, regency, contemporary, sweet, erotic, suspense, paranormal and so on. Choose both your favorite authors and those unknown to you. Select books from publishers you are interested in and see what kinds of works they are putting out.
It really is true - the more you read, the more you know.
Too many people think that writing Romance is easier than attempting a mainstream piece of fiction. This is not so. No longer are romances the simple stories of boy meets girl, boy loses girl but boy gets girl back in the end. You must be able to tell a story, make it interesting and have it brimming with conflict while keeping the romance at the forefront. Romance readers, depending on the genre, want to be entertained, aroused, feeling the suspense, or living in another time, but most of all, emotionally satisfied by the end. This takes work - no doubt about it.
This is from my first article published over at the Aspiring Authors blog. To read the entire article, click here.
Along with writing, I am avid student of learning. I'm always on the lookout for books, classes and seminars that can help benefit my writing skills. Sometimes you can learn a lot, while at other times, you must take what applies and toss out the rest. This is the same for any advice, on whatever topic, that comes your way.
No matter what your experience level is, there is always something new we can learn. Whether it is something practical or just the 'pick me up' needed to carry on, it can all be beneficial. When you think you know everything you need to know, that's when you are in trouble.
Here are two examples of how I am branching out this year. First off, I'm going to take the 2 Year Novelwriting workshop put on by Lazette Gifford. You can find the downloadable ebook link located on the left-hand side menu.
Secondly, I'm going to be a participant in the Aspiring Authors blog that will feature writing tips and hints on the road to publication for romance writers. Come on over and check it out.
I have never been one to make New Year's resolutions, but this year, I've decided to make a few concerning writing. Last year was the start of my ambitious road to writing novels - in particular, romance novels, and I wish to use this year to complete and submit them. So, on that note, here are my 2007 resolutions:
1. I will fully edit and polish Manuscript 1 and send it out for representation.
2. I will fully write, edit and polish Manuscript 2 this year - in hopes of having it fully completed and ready to shop out by the end of the year.
3. When in writing mode, I will adopt a closed-door policy - and allow nothing short of a fire to pull me away from the computer. The goal here - to write at least one thousand words per sitting.
Name: Victoria Alt Location: Lloydminster, Canada
I have been writing for years, although this is my first venture into the world of writing romance. Email Me
