I’m excited about 3 writing points this morning. The first one is how I almost called this post “If Jesus was a writing coach” – similar to my “If Christina Aguilera was a writing coach” – but I had a feeling Jesus might not be nearly as popular as Christina Aguilera – lol. But the reason for almost calling it that is this: in this morning’s devotional, people were questioning Jesus about who he really was, as if he should clarify himself. But he told them they didn’t understand because they were not his sheep. His sheep would know his voice and respond to him. In other words, they were not his right reader.

That’s similar to the latest blog post on Bob Mayer’s blog, Write it Forward. The takeaway there is that it doesn’t matter if people who would not normally read your books do not like your books. That it’s just as important to know who your right reader isn’t as it is to know who your right reader is.

And my third point came from reading the latest Romance Writer Report (RWR) from RWA. I know I say I probably won’t renew my membership because I’m Indie now, but, on second thought, there’s still some value there. And the first article I read was about knowing your learning style because it seems to be connected to your writing style. We all hear about some writer’s style as if it’s “the style” and we must all write just like that if we want to be successful. And then it not only doesn’t work for us – we hate it! Clearly, learning styles and writing styles are individualistic.

I, of course, am a hands on person. I walk around the block or jump on the treadmill to get my creative juices flowing or solve a plot problem. That’s the kind of technical writer I am, too. The kind who must tinker with the software or tool to find how how it works. This is far more effective to me than sitting with an engineer and having him explain it – I hate doing that. But it works for some technical writers and sometimes that’s the only way to find out anything. I don’t enjoy those days.

Anyway, when it comes to writing as learning style, there are 3 types: Visual, Auditory, Tactile/Kinesthetic. Check out the latest issue of RWR for quiz and tips with how to apply it to writing. Don’t be surprised if you score in more than one category.

I did score 2 visuals and 1 auditory. And while I don’t usually create a visual, like a collage, while writing, sometimes I stumble onto just the right visual for the book. For example, I found this picture of a swimsuit model and I knew she was Sandy and so it spurred me on to write a big scene yesterday in Real Women Sing the Blues, the sequel to Real Women Wear Red.

In closing, I’d like to share this quote was from a writer, who is obviously, the same as me – Tactile/Kinesthetic:

“I once got up from my desk mid-scene, walked down to the pub, and ordered a Guinness because my heroine was drinking one and I wanted to know what she was thinking.” – Julie Cohen

All the more reason to live within walking distance of interesting places… instead of the single-family neighborhood I’m in – lol!

Posted by Kathy in Book News

Watching the history of Jazz on my Netflix download queue, I was struck by two opening lines:

1. Jazz is the ultimate in rugged individualism
2. It’s getting up on that stage and saying, “It doesn’t matter how anybody else did it, this is how I’m gonna do it”

Wouldn’t it be fabulous if we embraced writing the same way?

There’s much talk about poorly-written self-published books. Well, beyond the subjective issue, it is important to work on craft, formatting, writing, editing, covert art, and every detail involved in the production process. I should know – I’ve been involved in print and electronic publishing since the late 70s and have worked for major publishers such as Ziff Davis (Mac User Magazine) and McGraw-Hill (a variety of technical books).

But everything else is up for grabs – everything else should be up to the artist – genre, point of view, plot. Too often these areas were dictated by publishers as the midlist disappeared and only potential best sellers were published. This is the beauty of the time period we’re living in – the breakout of the Indie author. I fear, though, even that is at risk.

There are several movements afoot to band together, put a stamp of approval on a brand of books, supposedly so that readers will know a book has passed the “quality” test, whatever they’ve decided that should be. And what about those who prefer to remain independent and not part of a group? Without a similar stamp of approval, is their book not quality work?

It’s about time we weren’t so snooty about books – it’s about time we embraced books as art – it’s about time that books as art is also a successful book business.

If I believed the naysayers out there and what I see with my physical eyes and not with eyes of faith, I’d give up writing immediately. But I believe in writing like it was jazz where the computer is my stage. I believe what I said in my post about the Christina Aguilera approach to coaching, “Take it or leave it, this is who I am.” I believe in doing it my way – I can’t do it any other way. I see the attitude in music – I’d like to see more of it in writing.

Posted by Kathy in Book News

Before Buddy went to the Rainbow Bridge, I would have said that his brother, Skipper, was my favorite. I would have said that Lovey was next in line. Those two cats certainly treated him like he was third man on the totem pole. When I had dreams symbolizing loss, it was about those 2 cats getting out of the house and me panicking over losing them. Buddy was never in my dreams.

I started to become aware that he was more important to me than I’d realized the first time he had to spend the day at the vet. I missed him terribly. He was the quiet cat who was always just *there” – so unnoticeable at best, and annoying at worst. Because in spite of his best qualities, he could be quite hyper and annoy all of us. But he could also be so special because he was totally devoted to me, which could also sometimes be annoying.

The vets loved him – he as such a good cat at the vet. They’d say stuff like, “Oh, sorry, we kept him so long,” as if he was entertaining the ladies in the back room. But he was a ladies man kind of cat. I began to see him in a different light.

And then when he was diagnosed with Diabetes, which had wacky, unexpected results, culminating with some sort of neurological disorder, he spent a lot of time at the vet – and they loved him. I began to mourn his loss during this time of illness. And now that he’s gone, I miss him dearly. He was here to comfort me and take care of me. And now that he’s gone and I need that comfort more than ever, he isn’t here. I love the other 2 cats, but, somehow, they just aren’t comfort kitties.

Yesterday, we were sorting through old pictures and I came across some of when he and his brother (litter mates) were kittens. So last night, he was a ghost in my dream – he showed up in several places and we knew he was a ghost. It really is rather funny. I like the idea of Buddy as ghost, as if he is still here, watching over us. Right up to the last minute, when we knew we had to take him to the vet one last time, we both cried and so he did his best to comfort *us* – even when he could barely walk. He gave us all he had.

Love you, Buddy! See you in my dreams!

A new favorite toy – a cardboard box

Even better with a brother

A new hiding place

Favorite spot

Rare pic of their kitty collars – they didn’t put up with these for long

Brothers hangin out

Posted by Kathy in Book News

I’ve often said that music is my first love – writing is my second. But, by the time I got around to “starting over,” it seemed a bit late to start over with music. I started writing instead. But music plays a part in my writing – not only as inspiration but in scenes in my books.

I must be the last person to discover Rolling in the Deep, as I mentioned in my previous post. I even wrote a scene where Cyn sings this song in Real Women Sing the Blues, the sequel to Real Women Wear Red. I downloaded the sheet music, tried recording my voice with Adele and Kim. Then I searched on youtube to see how other people were doing this song. And found out everybody from 6-year-olds to members of the military are singing this song. And then I felt totally deflated. For me, this was “TMI.”

How can any of us feel good about our accomplishments when today we are surrounded by millions of people who might be doing it better? This is so deflating. It takes work to get good at anything, but if we’re deflated before we even begin, we won’t get anywhere. But maybe those growing up with all of this information access will react to it differently. Maybe they’ll take being critiqued on twitter in their stride. Maybe all this competition will make them, well, uh, competitive – uber competitive.

I worked with a lot of brilliant people in Silicon Valley, and I remember an especially brilliant co-worker saying  how she saw the future as a world of information sharing – how we would transfer our information to other people. And the implication was that this information would work to our benefit – we would get paid for our information. NOT! No, as always, Corporate America is learning how to use that information that everybody gives so freely through Facebook, Twitter, and other online sites, for their good. They are the ones making money off of our information. And we give it away so willingly.

You can’t even apply for a job online without getting the information of how many have already applied for this job. Maybe some people want to know this, but, here again, I find this deflating. I function much better in a small circle of competition. Now, with online sites make our economy a global economy, it’s hard to feel good about anything you do now. It’s hard to know what you can own or what you can expect. It’s all up for grabs.

I’m really trying to narrow my world, because it has exploded into something so huge, it’s become unmanageable. But that gets harder every day. But one thing I have come to appreciate is that maybe it’s okay I’ve pursued my second love instead of my first love. Because maybe I’m a better writer than singer after all. And maybe it’s best I leave the singing to my characters.

Stay tuned for Real Women Sing the Blues.

Posted by Kathy in Book News

“The Voice” is teaching me so much – about what artists are hot, what the latest songs are, and introducing me to new artists – I love this! I was bored by pop songs and mostly ignored it over the past 10 years or so, so I am a little slow to the party of new songs that are really a bit retro. It’s like taking contemporary music with strong female singers, and throwing in a disco beat – lol! It’s music sung from the heart by real women, and not little girls.

And, as I mentioned in my last post, I’m taking Christina Aguilera’s vocal coach lessons from “The Voice” and applying them to writing, as in bringing it, owning it, and standing behind it. But not only to writing, but to all of my life. I’ve been backed into a corner, and I know that the way out is to bring it – to bring it all!

One of the artists that’s mentioned a lot is Adele – many singers are performing her songs, and my new favorite song is “Rolling in the Deep.” This so captures my attitude.

And here’s “The Voice” contestant Kim Yarbrough, who did a fabulous job with this song:

So, writers shouldn’t do anything less – when you write, bring it – bring it all! 

Don’t underestimate the things that you can do.

Posted by Kathy in Book News