Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts

Friday, September 18, 2015

Short Story: About Your Plant...

About Your Plant...


“I’m sorry to tell you this, but...”

At the hesitation coming across the phone, Grant leaned against a column by the gate for his flight. He tried to keep out of the way of the hustle and bustle, but listened to announcements. He would board soon after the business class and families were finished. While he listened to his boyfriend, Brayden, he tried to ignore the noise and craziness around him.

Brayden didn’t often hesitate over anything. It wasn’t part of his make-up. Grant swore his honey had some form of hyperactivity, which caused Brayden to be on the constant move, especially when he woke up way too early in the morning. No matter what, he wouldn’t trade Brayden in for anything else.

Still, this hesitation didn’t bode well for the rest of the incoming statement.

Grant shoved fingers through his hair and let out a long sigh. “What mischief, mayhem, or catastrophe did you cause now, baby?”

“Spideyturnedallbrownandcommittedplantsuicide,” Brayden said, running the words real quick together. He let out a long ‘whew’. “Got it all out. Thank Gawd! I was...”

“Whoa. Whoa. Back up a moment,” Grant said and rubbed the back of his neck. He thought he heard everything, but wasn't quite sure what Brayden said. He checked out the boarding procedures and knew there would be time to get through this conversation.

“To what point?”

As he pinched the bridge of his nose between forefingers, Grant heard the high-pitched, childish tone in his lover’s voice. He could easily imagine the look on the gorgeous, youthful face of his baby, those big pale blue eyes would be wide-open wide and surrounded with lush black lashes to match the artfully designed and gelled layers of thick hair, and the tip of his tongue poked out one corner. From experience, Brayden would either shift or dance from one foot to the other. His baby never could stay still, except after Grant aroused then satiated him in bed until he fell asleep exhausted beyond belief.

“What happened to Spidey?” he asked about the bushy spider plant growing in the kitchen. He nurtured it from a cutting of his mother’s plant. It was a type of long-distance connection to his parents.

Upon seeing it and learning the name of the plant, Brayden gave it the nickname of ‘Spidey.’ It stuck.

“Everything you wrote down in the note and told me, Grant. I watered, fed, gave Spidey sun, and I even sang to it! I even turned him around so all sides could get fresh sunlight from the window.”

A laugh turned into a cough as Grant tried to hide his amusement behind a stern front. Then he Grant listened to his lover’s explanation about how the plant when from green and thriving when he left for his week-long conference to yellow, brown and withered.

“I told you I don’t have a green thumb! I kill any growing thing I come near,” Brayden pleaded.

“What else did you do to the plant?”

“Everything on the list like you told me.”

“Did you open the windows?”

“Umm…” There was more hesitation. “Yeah, there was a nice chill in the air so I opened the windows.”

“Including the one in the kitchen by Spidey?”

“Yup.”

“Did you move Spidey away from the window when you opened it?”

“Nope.”

That was the kicker. Spider plants don’t always like a chilly breeze. Still, Grant didn’t dare tell his baby he did something wrong.

“Why do you ask?”

“No reason, baby, was just checking on any other possibilities other than you swearing you have a death thumb with plants.”

“Are you sure?”

“I'm sure. Did you deliberately wait to tell me this just before I’m about to board a plane so I couldn’t yell at you for killing my plant?”

“Mebbe?”

“Oh, baby,” Grant said and chuckled. “It’s a plant. That’s all. I can get another.”

“But... It was a baby of your mama’s plant! It meant something to you. And I killed it!” Brayden said, almost finished with a desperate cry-whine of agony.

Grant chuckled at the over-the-top dramatics. He wondered if Brayden even threw himself down onto the nearest piece of furniture. He wouldn’t put it pass his baby.

“I let you down. I let Spidey down. This is why we can’t get a pet. Imagine what I would do to a poor defenseless little animal?”

“You would love, hug, and dance with it, baby. You would let our pet climb all over you...”

“Umm. Eww! Hair and slobber on MY clothes? Umm, no, someone needs to keep up our appearances and reps as a fab-uuuuu-lous dresser in this duo.”

Grant hooted with laughter.

“Am I forgiven?”

“I don’t know. Let me think about this,” Grant said, holding the teasing tone out of his voice knowing it would drive Brayden up a wall.

“Grant! Don’t do this to me. What if I bribe you with the most fantastic, longest and best ever blowjob in the entire city of Orlando?”

“I don’t know. I already get that from my boyfriend every night.”

Brayden let out his sweet laughter over the phone and it went right down Grant’s spine to his cock. “Yes, you do, and it better only be from ME! I’m possessive about my man.” He let out a soft sigh. “It’s been a long week. I’m so lonely. I can’t sleep alone in our bed.”

“I’ll say, too damn long. I couldn’t sleep in the hotel without you,” Grant agreed, shoving a hand through his hair.

“You’ll be home soon. A short flight home and you’ll be in my arms.”

“Are you going to remember to be at the airport? Have all the flight information? I texted you the confirmation this morning,” Grant said, loving Brayden’s exuberance and issue with forgetting daily tasks – like watering a plant – when he’s deep in a wedding planning project.

“Yes, I have everything and will be waiting with anxious breath to see you walk down the long hallway. I do know how to run a business and get to places.”

“With a few extra reminders on occasion,” Grant teased.

Brayden huffed. “What about the plant’s suicide?”

“It’s okay, baby, but I need you to do something with Spidey before you toss it out.”

“Umm...”

“Am I too late? Did you toss it?”

There was no answer from Brayden, but Grant knew. He shoved another hand through his brown curls and scratched his chin.

“No big deal. Mom can send me a fresh clipping or I’ll pick one out at the garden shop.”

“Sorry?” Brayden said in a pipsqueak pleading tone known to soothe Grant’s ruffled temper.

Grant turned to look at the gate when he heard the flight attendants call for his section to board. “Babe, I gotta go. They’re boarding my area. We’ll discuss plant care again, when I get home.”

“Would it help if I mentioned I got two extra-large tubes of new flavored lubes and a really thick delicious toy?”

Grant groaned.

Chuckling with pure madness, Brayden sent him kisses and hung up.

“Devilish brat did it deliberately,” Grant said as he shut down the phone for the flight and shoved it in his pocket. He used his backpack as cover to rearrange his swollen waiting cock. “I’ll definitely make him pay for that one.” Still uncomfortable in his khakis, he swung the backpack over a shoulder, grabbed the handle of his suitcase, and joined others in the line to board the full flight home.

***

Two and half hours later, Grant exited the breezeway with the other departing passengers and looked around the opened area of the concourse at Orlando International. There was no familiar black head and bouncing slender body decked out the latest fashionable outfit anywhere.

Even with the reminders, Grant couldn’t believe Brayden would forget to meet him. Stranded unless he wanted to take a taxi, he found himself steamed at Brayden’s playful forgetfulness. This went too far. Yanking his phone from the pocket, he pressed the button to call his lover.

“I’m here! I’m here! Running late, where are you?” Brayden answered in a breathless tone.

“I’m waiting for you. I can’t believe you forgot—”

“I didn’t. I didn’t. Had to finish a special errand...”

Grant moved the phone when Brayden squealed over the phone and heard it echoing in the airport. He saw Brayden running from the escalator and down the middle to where he waited by the large flight boards. He braced himself when Brayden slammed into him, skinny arms draped in cashmere wrapped around his neck, as his lover hopped and wrapped his legs around Grant’s hips.

“Holy crap!” he murmured before Brayden’s lips crushed against his stunned mouth in a desperate, passion filled kiss. He enclosed the skinny frame in his arms and kissed his lover in return. After a week, the smell, taste and sight of his lover excited him.

“Ahh, I missed you. Missed you,” Brayden said, pressed more kisses around Grant’s face before he dropped back on his feet. “Can’t stand a week apart. It’s horrible.”

Capturing Brayden’s runaway mouth in another kiss, Grant knew it was the only way to shut him up at times like this. He heard Brayden’s moan as he leaned harder against him. He felt the smooth manicure on Brayden’s fingers slide against his cheeks and scalp as his lover moved to cling to his curls.

Giggling, Brayden hugged him and stared at him. “About your plant…”

Grant lifted an eyebrow as he leaned back. “What about it?”

“It had babies! I called your mama and she told me how to rescue the babies, even with my fickle fingers and living things. We have Spidey back! Well, Spidey Junior,” Brayden said with a wicked, mercurial grin.

With gales of laughter, realizing this was the reason behind why Brayden was late, Grant hugged his precocious lover closer and nuzzled his neck. “About those new lubes, toy, and mention of the longest blow job...” he murmured into Brayden’s ear while they left the airport. His laughter continued as Grant began to draw out his personal promise to make Brayden flush, squirm, and wiggle with sensual pleasure for the death and rebirth of Spidey.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Insanity of NaNoWriMo

30 Days to write a 50,o00 word novel! That's the challenge put forth to budding and well versed writers all over the world for the month of November by the creators of NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. From midnight November 1st to midnight November 30th, all wanna-be, caffeine-charged writers toss aside day-to-day cares, worries, and regular activities to pound away on their keyboards, creating fantastical worlds, maniacal villians, gorgeous heroes, and clever heroines, and a plot that will hopefully stretch out beyond those precious 50k words. Even if you have to toss in a few zombies, ravishing floods, or whatever needed to flounce out a few extras here and there.

Who cares?

It's NaNo!

The roughest 1st draft created just to make you get from Point A to Point B to Point C to the mystical and beautiful THE END of your novel. That's what every novelist wants to see when they reach the frantic end of NaNoWriMo on or before November 30th. They can upload their...ahem...masterpiece to the website for verification.... and go from green bar to PURPLE WINNER bar and collect your goodies.

I got mine!!! One of them is the button you see at the beginning of this post. While my NaNo this year isn't a full Novel, per say, I did accomplish what I wanted. The third novella of my McDrakken series. It does need some editing before sending it off.

Did you make your goal? Did you get your purple bar? Let me know what you think of NaNoWriMo?

Monday, October 25, 2010

The Problem with Muses

Why is it that as soon as your head hits the delicious fluffy pillow you waited all day for, your eyes drift close to enterĂ‚ a restful sleep, the brat with wings we writers call our muses perks up like a child on a sugar-high? Oh man, was mine ever on a sugar-adrenaline-caffeine high last night! The vicious little winged brat danced, jumped, cartwheeled all around my dreams and head for a solid hour. Wheedeled, cajoled, and crowed about how she knew way to get more punch in the current WiP I've been working on called Fire Moon Dance.

Exhausted, not to mention I would be facing a Monday morning, I pleaded with her to hold the news and ideas until later, and tried to push her away and burrow into sleep. Nope, there was no holding this adrenaline riddled winged brat. She tugged and pulled at me. Beautiful gorgeous sleep remained ever elusive. Tossing the sheet back, I rolled out of bed, yawned, tried not to stumble over a cat while I pulled the memory stick from my purse since that held all my precious writing files. Shuffling into the libary/office, I sat down hard and booted up the lap-top.

When the images and ideas began to flood my tired brain, I realized this wasn't going to be a simple note taking experience. While I waited for the screens to come up, I grabbed some iced-tea for a minor hit of caffeine to wake up my brain to and catch up to adrenaline-paced muse - though she was at tornado speed by this point. Sitting down again, I plugged in the memory stick, opened the WiP and went to the point she wanted.

She began to point out what was wrong. While I agreed with what she talked about - a huge majority of the book took place on one day and night - I wasn't sure about how she went about changing things. I blinked at her option. Break it up? How? Force another day in there?

::Why not? You have the space now? It's not a simple novella?:: she said, tapping little feet, fluttering wings. ::Break it up. Spread it out. Don't rush it.::

But won't I lose the momentum? The drama that was created? All those words and editing I slaved over.

::Do it!::

Slugging down another swallow of tea, I moved my finger on the pad to the chapter break and hit it. Then I started the new chapter, amazing the words flow more readily then I expected. It continued to flow until I finished the chapter and hit another chapter break.

By now the clock read after 11 pm. By this time, exhaustion dragged. I couldn't hold back sleep. Not even for my crazy muse. I begged for sleep. I saved and shut down. Dropped the stick back in the purse and curled into bed.

Yet, as I went to sleep. Pain in the ass muse gave me one more direction to change.

::Your Latino hero doesn't speak a lick of Spanish to the heroine in the book. You need to change that too. It'll make him different from the other hero.::

I'm seriously considering feeding her to the cats.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Here we go! A new Blog!

A new blog!

All spiffy and shiny. Thanks to some wonderful help and lots of advice from Leiland and Reese (my gorgeous new banner). What would I do without the two of you?? This thing would be ever so boring.

Come and look, explore, check everything out, comment. I will be adding goodies and widgets as I figure little stuff out. I would love to have guest posts as well, so please please let me know if you would love to host a day for a release or just because.

Back to writing and kitties!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Contest Entry - ARe Just One Bite

After hemming and hawing and thinking about it. I started one story, but itĂ‚ wasn't going anywhere. Then I opened an older story about aĂ‚ witch standing on a precipice and something clicked.Ă‚ Mostly written,Ă‚ needed some polishing and a little more oomph, and I decided what the hey. ContestĂ‚ was free. It couldn't hurt to try.

So... after sending the story off to my wonderful readers, Barbara, Anita, & Jodie. Thank you darling wonderful ladies for taking a few moments to give me some ruthless critique which I asked for and not holding back. :) I polished it once more and opened up the website.

I entered the story into ARe's contest - Just One Bite.

It's called Dragon's Sacrifice, a m/f paranormal/fantasy romance with dragon elements.

It needs to get past the judges first and into the 32 semifinalists found for judging by YOU on the site from Oct 1 thru 31 for the final prizes. So, keep your fingers crossed it gets that far. I would at least love to get to be one of those lucky 32!! That would be a coo!!

If it gets there, I'll give you the heads up to start voting!!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Another Submission

Gotta keep writing and putting work out there.  So, yes indeed. I hit sent on a submission - Unholy Angel - off to another e-publisher. Keeping my fingers cross for hopeful news. It's an interesting little novella full of angels, incubus, Fallen angel, demons, vampires, and weres. A world split into realms - Heathen (the realm of demons, Fallens, Vampires, and weres), Earth, Aequitas (the realm of justice and a special prison), and the Heavens (the realm of the Angels and the Hierarchy Trio who governs all the realms).

Unholy Angel is the story of an Archangel from the Aequitas Realm - Cassiel and the only female incubus known to the world, Kieranna. Can this dark incubus condemned to die find a way to break through preconceived notions to give this Guardian the taste of an incubus's kiss?

In other news, I signed up to write a Christmas story. Soon, a yummy, but overworked celebrity chef named Logan began whispering his story in my ear and dreams about his mishap in a blizzard that ended in a warm delight of passion. But in whose arms will he end up? I'm still finding that out while he finishes his story.

** Christmas Book removed from Publisher. To be revised, reprinted, and a new cover!

Friday, February 26, 2010

What's Been Happening?

What's been happening since the last post over two weeks ago??

Another dragon story will be coming your way... After Dragon's Grace, you will learn more about the world of the McDrakken Warriors, the lore, the mythology in Dragon's Sanity. The contract has been signed and mailed in to Lyrical Press. Yay! While the second book is starting to enter the magical world of editing, I'm working on the third book tentatively called Dragon's Betrayal.

I've finally had a wonderful peak of interest from an editor at Loose Id in Gideon's story and am hoping for good news. As anyone who knows, Gideon and his brothers long hold a special place in my heart and I hope to publish their stories and introduce them to readers. Keep your fingers cross for good news.

Another bit of news, the angel/incubus story passed the first round at Ellora and is on to the editor's round and will be waiting. I'm also waiting to hear about my catamount story from Samhain.

So lots of stories are out and about in the submission process. Lots of stories are in the WIPs process.

What's Been Happening?

What's been happening since the last post over two weeks ago??

Another dragon story will be coming your way... After Dragon's Grace, you will learn more about the world of the McDrakken Warriors, the lore, the mythology in Dragon's Sanity. The contract has been signed and mailed in to Lyrical Press. Yay! While the second book is starting to enter the magical world of editing, I'm working on the third book tentatively called Dragon's Betrayal.

I've finally had a wonderful peak of interest from an editor at Loose Id in Gideon's story and am hoping for good news. As anyone who knows, Gideon and his brothers long hold a special place in my heart and I hope to publish their stories and introduce them to readers. Keep your fingers cross for good news.

Another bit of news, the angel/incubus story passed the first round at Ellora and is on to the editor's round and will be waiting. I'm also waiting to hear about my catamount story from Samhain.

So lots of stories are out and about in the submission process. Lots of stories are in the WIPs process.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A simple update

For a writer, I have no trouble coming up with ideas for a new story. I often have multiple ideas coming up in my crazy mind. Almost any time I get the need to write, I pull up different wips to add too depending on what I want to work on. Unless there is one particular story I'm working on to get out as a submission, then I knuckle down and concentrate just on that.

So, why is it so hard to come up with blog ideas? :: one virtual shrug ::

Here's just a simple update on things then... Nothing retrospective or interesting. Just a simple post.

Submissions:
Dragon's Grace - Nocturne Bites - still waiting for 12 weeks now.
Familiar Protection - Lyrical Press - just clicked over for one week.
This is Gideon's story and still dear to my heart. After the disappointing R from Samhain, I turned attention back to it. I pulled it apart once again, finding holes that needed to be filled, and went through to add things back in. Even got another CP's view on it. I needed more about Layla, my heroine. She was rather bland against the power and grace of Gideon and his background. It needed to be her story as well as Gideon's. I added more about her life on the other side of the barrier. Information about her home, her company, even an ex who helped her focus on what she needed for her life, more about her family and the pressure placed on her destiny. I hope that this brings her forward and into the eyes of the reader.

WIPs:
Once again, multiple stories in progress... I can't seem to work on just one at a time. It's strange, but that's me.
Let's see..what's out there..

Unholy Angel - a paranormal/erotic story of a incubus/angel heroine meets up with an Angel. I though this was just going to be a m/f story, but now another male has put his foot down and is with the Angel. so I now have a m/m and m/f areas. Perhaps I will have both males with her, but will see. The various realms are shaping up - Aequitas is the prison/justice realm, Heaven is for Angels, Heathen is for the demons/fallen/para area, and then there is the mortals area.

Cruising Adventure - a m/m contemporary story that popped in my mind - but a very bad title. These two males just popped in, almost fully fleshed, a lot of the various scenes coming forward like a movie in my mind and begging to be put on the screen. I hope this one works out as well, it's my first true m/m story and I hope it can appeal to readers.

Presents contest - still figuring out idea for this contest. I do wish to enter and need to work on the first chapter and synopsis. Had something come out, but I want to go back and rewrite it, start at a different point in their relationship.

Tatsuya Series - my first Dragon series that I tried for Bites. I want to take the first story and really stretch it out, simplify the world/mythology and expand on the story, the characters, and plot. It moved too fast and too much was in it for such a short story. It definitely deserves to be lengthened and added too. Plus there are other yummy characters that are clamouring for their own stories.

Those are the main wips, but one never knows what the next idea could bring.

Hope everyone out there has their own ideas, dreams, and lives working out for them.

A simple update

For a writer, I have no trouble coming up with ideas for a new story. I often have multiple ideas coming up in my crazy mind. Almost any time I get the need to write, I pull up different wips to add too depending on what I want to work on. Unless there is one particular story I'm working on to get out as a submission, then I knuckle down and concentrate just on that.

So, why is it so hard to come up with blog ideas? :: one virtual shrug ::

Here's just a simple update on things then... Nothing retrospective or interesting. Just a simple post.

Submissions:
Dragon's Grace - Nocturne Bites - still waiting for 12 weeks now.
Familiar Protection - Lyrical Press - just clicked over for one week.
This is Gideon's story and still dear to my heart. After the disappointing R from Samhain, I turned attention back to it. I pulled it apart once again, finding holes that needed to be filled, and went through to add things back in. Even got another CP's view on it. I needed more about Layla, my heroine. She was rather bland against the power and grace of Gideon and his background. It needed to be her story as well as Gideon's. I added more about her life on the other side of the barrier. Information about her home, her company, even an ex who helped her focus on what she needed for her life, more about her family and the pressure placed on her destiny. I hope that this brings her forward and into the eyes of the reader.

WIPs:
Once again, multiple stories in progress... I can't seem to work on just one at a time. It's strange, but that's me.
Let's see..what's out there..

Unholy Angel - a paranormal/erotic story of a incubus/angel heroine meets up with an Angel. I though this was just going to be a m/f story, but now another male has put his foot down and is with the Angel. so I now have a m/m and m/f areas. Perhaps I will have both males with her, but will see. The various realms are shaping up - Aequitas is the prison/justice realm, Heaven is for Angels, Heathen is for the demons/fallen/para area, and then there is the mortals area.

Cruising Adventure - a m/m contemporary story that popped in my mind - but a very bad title. These two males just popped in, almost fully fleshed, a lot of the various scenes coming forward like a movie in my mind and begging to be put on the screen. I hope this one works out as well, it's my first true m/m story and I hope it can appeal to readers.

Presents contest - still figuring out idea for this contest. I do wish to enter and need to work on the first chapter and synopsis. Had something come out, but I want to go back and rewrite it, start at a different point in their relationship.

Tatsuya Series - my first Dragon series that I tried for Bites. I want to take the first story and really stretch it out, simplify the world/mythology and expand on the story, the characters, and plot. It moved too fast and too much was in it for such a short story. It definitely deserves to be lengthened and added too. Plus there are other yummy characters that are clamouring for their own stories.

Those are the main wips, but one never knows what the next idea could bring.

Hope everyone out there has their own ideas, dreams, and lives working out for them.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Lowdown on Info-Dumping

Exposition. Information dumping. Overlong narration.

What is all of this??

There are all types of ways for writers to convey information to their readers about the plot, character, setting, and theme of their story.

Still, how much exposition/info-dumping is too much?

Most writers know that too much info-dumping can bog down the drama, the plot, and just kill the momentum and your reader’s attention. More importantly, it could be a big part whether the editor decides to send you another R letter to be pasted on your wall or that glorious Acceptance letter and ‘we want to buy your story’ call that we all wish to hear.

So… What do we do about it? How much dumping can we do before it is overkill and derail your story? It’s that fine balance we must deal with while weaving our storyline, plots, and characters together, all the while walking on that thin wire between glorious narration and dumping.

There are ways to give information without imparting a lot of information to your readers and your poor, over-worked, over-wrought editor but still give everyone the background they need to enjoy the story. Besides, we all know that paragraphs and paragraphs of long narrative are skipped by most readers (I do it at times. I’m sure you’ve done it a time or too). This break of attention upsets your immersion into the story, you are so busy skipping long narrative sections that you (or your editor) aren’t diving deep in the story.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

This isn’t good because we often miss a key piece of information that is lying there within all that narrative for you to find and realize how important it is to the entire plot. Umm.. Yikes! That’s not a good thing for you as the writer or you as the reader.

After a bit of searching, I found some strategies for handling info dumping and gently giving this needed and vital information to your reader (and editor) in a better fashion that encourages them to stay with the story. I found this first series from the website of ‘The Rth Dimension – Fiction Writing (
http://www.therthdimension.org/FictionWriting/fiction_writing.htm):

Deductive Introspection-- Character puts two and two together in his head as the reader "watches"
Introspective Reminiscing--One or more characters reminisce about past events crucial for the reader to understand what's happening.
Flashbacks
"Stranger in a Strange Land"--Person or alien in an new environment has to ask questions; reader gets educated as the plot develops
"The Briefing"--Character in a new situation is briefed by a more knowledgeable person or persons; the reader listens in
"The Bard"-- Poetry at the start or in the interior of a chapter telling us something about the situation and/or characters (as in JRR Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS or Mike Resnick's SANTIAGO)
"Media Blurbs"--Encyclopedic, newspaper, newscasts, e-mail messages or book excerpts at the start or inside a chapter that conveys info (as in Asimov's FOUNDATION TRILOGY; Van Vogt's THE WEAPON SHOPS OF ISHER; Vernor Vinge's A FIRE UPON THE DEEP)
"Strategic Character"--Character specifically chosen by the author so that she's always at the right place at the right time to see something the main character can't
"The Dr. Watson"--the sidekick approach (as in THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES)
"Strategic Debate" --two or more characters argue; during the argument, important information is brought out.

There is another technique used in Fantasy and Paranormal stories with world building. It is called “Incluing” which is a technique where the reader will gradually be exposed to the background information about the world – the setting, the history behind a group of shapeshifters/vampires/fae/etc. As a writer, you will clue the readers to the world you’re building without them really being aware that this is what you’re doing.

In essence, this incluing is the opposite of pure dumping. How can this be accomplished. Well here are a couple of more ways (probably duplicates of the above list):

Info is giving out during a conversation between various characters – gotta love the dialogue.

Back ground details are wonderful to be parsed throughout the story

Establish a scene where a character is followed through a daily routine or life

Then the offhand mention of something behind an open door can also establish familiarity to the world and doesn’t call attention to the happening by the reader.

Whether incluing or using some of the other above techniques, just be sure to scatter these wonderful tidbits of information seamlessly through the test. Make sure they don’t bring the plot/drama to a complete and utter halt.

Let everything naturally flow within the narrative and dialogue and the situation will not jar the poor reader/editor out of their immersion into your story.
When in doubt of how to do this, set aside your story, pick up a few books and check out how other authors handle this necessary lesson of writing.

No matter what… Happy writing!!

Lowdown on Info-Dumping

Exposition. Information dumping. Overlong narration.

What is all of this??

There are all types of ways for writers to convey information to their readers about the plot, character, setting, and theme of their story.

Still, how much exposition/info-dumping is too much?

Most writers know that too much info-dumping can bog down the drama, the plot, and just kill the momentum and your reader’s attention. More importantly, it could be a big part whether the editor decides to send you another R letter to be pasted on your wall or that glorious Acceptance letter and ‘we want to buy your story’ call that we all wish to hear.

So… What do we do about it? How much dumping can we do before it is overkill and derail your story? It’s that fine balance we must deal with while weaving our storyline, plots, and characters together, all the while walking on that thin wire between glorious narration and dumping.

There are ways to give information without imparting a lot of information to your readers and your poor, over-worked, over-wrought editor but still give everyone the background they need to enjoy the story. Besides, we all know that paragraphs and paragraphs of long narrative are skipped by most readers (I do it at times. I’m sure you’ve done it a time or too). This break of attention upsets your immersion into the story, you are so busy skipping long narrative sections that you (or your editor) aren’t diving deep in the story.

Bad. Bad. Bad.

This isn’t good because we often miss a key piece of information that is lying there within all that narrative for you to find and realize how important it is to the entire plot. Umm.. Yikes! That’s not a good thing for you as the writer or you as the reader.

After a bit of searching, I found some strategies for handling info dumping and gently giving this needed and vital information to your reader (and editor) in a better fashion that encourages them to stay with the story. I found this first series from the website of ‘The Rth Dimension – Fiction Writing (
http://www.therthdimension.org/FictionWriting/fiction_writing.htm):

Deductive Introspection-- Character puts two and two together in his head as the reader "watches"
Introspective Reminiscing--One or more characters reminisce about past events crucial for the reader to understand what's happening.
Flashbacks
"Stranger in a Strange Land"--Person or alien in an new environment has to ask questions; reader gets educated as the plot develops
"The Briefing"--Character in a new situation is briefed by a more knowledgeable person or persons; the reader listens in
"The Bard"-- Poetry at the start or in the interior of a chapter telling us something about the situation and/or characters (as in JRR Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS or Mike Resnick's SANTIAGO)
"Media Blurbs"--Encyclopedic, newspaper, newscasts, e-mail messages or book excerpts at the start or inside a chapter that conveys info (as in Asimov's FOUNDATION TRILOGY; Van Vogt's THE WEAPON SHOPS OF ISHER; Vernor Vinge's A FIRE UPON THE DEEP)
"Strategic Character"--Character specifically chosen by the author so that she's always at the right place at the right time to see something the main character can't
"The Dr. Watson"--the sidekick approach (as in THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES)
"Strategic Debate" --two or more characters argue; during the argument, important information is brought out.

There is another technique used in Fantasy and Paranormal stories with world building. It is called “Incluing” which is a technique where the reader will gradually be exposed to the background information about the world – the setting, the history behind a group of shapeshifters/vampires/fae/etc. As a writer, you will clue the readers to the world you’re building without them really being aware that this is what you’re doing.

In essence, this incluing is the opposite of pure dumping. How can this be accomplished. Well here are a couple of more ways (probably duplicates of the above list):

Info is giving out during a conversation between various characters – gotta love the dialogue.

Back ground details are wonderful to be parsed throughout the story

Establish a scene where a character is followed through a daily routine or life

Then the offhand mention of something behind an open door can also establish familiarity to the world and doesn’t call attention to the happening by the reader.

Whether incluing or using some of the other above techniques, just be sure to scatter these wonderful tidbits of information seamlessly through the test. Make sure they don’t bring the plot/drama to a complete and utter halt.

Let everything naturally flow within the narrative and dialogue and the situation will not jar the poor reader/editor out of their immersion into your story.
When in doubt of how to do this, set aside your story, pick up a few books and check out how other authors handle this necessary lesson of writing.

No matter what… Happy writing!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

News and Ideas

Ever so sorry that I've disappeared for so long. Tax season has come to my office and is eating up a lot of my daytime hours. At night, my home computer is so slow that it feels like I'm on dial-up on my cable connection. I think it's about ready to begin its long slow death to computer heaven. Sigh, another one down...

Other than that, had a bit of painful news this week. Got a rejection letter from Ravenous for a short story. It wasn't unexpected now that I look over the story now. More sex and no story - which isn't all that good. So, I shelved it.

Still working on my Familiar's story for Samhain. It's coming along actually better than I thought. Easily added in over 5000 words and added in multiple scenes and increased current scenes. Finished chapter one and sent it to a cp to see if I kept the same feeling throughout the updates. That's the fear that I didn't keep the same aura and scope thru the story. I can't lose what it initially had to bring it to the attention of the editor.

Then, during a drive home from the office, my mind began rolling through another idea. It was an opening scene of a witch/sorceress standing on a turret of a small castle staring up at the sky at a lone dragon flying over. She wants to capture this dragon from the other land and hold him for her own lover, slave, or pet. All she knows is that he is a powerful dragon warrior and shifts back to one of the most handsome men in the lands. Until now, he has felt disdain for her family and land and has fought multiple battles on opposing sides.

Only now, in this small hidden castle, with a powerful special arrow, can she bring him down in a way that will not injure him, but make him powerless for her to capture.

What will this come too?? I’m not sure, but gonna look forward to binding this powerful dragon while this sorceress has her delicious way to him. Will he come to his knees and realize she’s his ultimate match? Hmm…

News and Ideas

Ever so sorry that I've disappeared for so long. Tax season has come to my office and is eating up a lot of my daytime hours. At night, my home computer is so slow that it feels like I'm on dial-up on my cable connection. I think it's about ready to begin its long slow death to computer heaven. Sigh, another one down...

Other than that, had a bit of painful news this week. Got a rejection letter from Ravenous for a short story. It wasn't unexpected now that I look over the story now. More sex and no story - which isn't all that good. So, I shelved it.

Still working on my Familiar's story for Samhain. It's coming along actually better than I thought. Easily added in over 5000 words and added in multiple scenes and increased current scenes. Finished chapter one and sent it to a cp to see if I kept the same feeling throughout the updates. That's the fear that I didn't keep the same aura and scope thru the story. I can't lose what it initially had to bring it to the attention of the editor.

Then, during a drive home from the office, my mind began rolling through another idea. It was an opening scene of a witch/sorceress standing on a turret of a small castle staring up at the sky at a lone dragon flying over. She wants to capture this dragon from the other land and hold him for her own lover, slave, or pet. All she knows is that he is a powerful dragon warrior and shifts back to one of the most handsome men in the lands. Until now, he has felt disdain for her family and land and has fought multiple battles on opposing sides.

Only now, in this small hidden castle, with a powerful special arrow, can she bring him down in a way that will not injure him, but make him powerless for her to capture.

What will this come too?? I’m not sure, but gonna look forward to binding this powerful dragon while this sorceress has her delicious way to him. Will he come to his knees and realize she’s his ultimate match? Hmm…

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

SWEATY SEX: A Sex & Sports Anthology is OUT!!


You can now purchase SWEATY SEX: A Sex and Sports Anthology at Ravenous Romance. Go to: http://www.ravenousromance.com
You can find the cover on the front page or under the Real Man Romance section!!
I hope you enjoy my story - Mixed Doubles - a steamy tennis story that is on and off the court hottness!!
Synopsis:
Who hasn't fantasized about hot, sweaty sex with an athlete? Or a teammate? The Sweaty Sex Anthology gives you a whole book of gay and straight erotic short stories that explore these fantasies, including:
A university girl has a hot crush on a sexy swimmer she sees at practice each morning and wants to put the moves on him before she can make any more mistakes.
A lusty reporter is determined to get the scoop on a hunky foreign hockey player but finds some sexy surprises instead.
A young wrestler goes to the mat with the man of his dreams.
Sexy football players, tennis players, baseball players, basketball junkies, martial artists and bowlers all explore their naughtiest, dirtiest fantasies. Lusty athletes gladly exert themselves, pushing their bodies, and each other, and aren't afraid to get a little bit sweaty.
Contributors:
John Jokel
Brandi Woodlawn
Roxy Harte
Nicole Dennis
Heidi Champa
David Montoya
J. L. Benet
Alexandra Rowan
Jen Bluekissed
Bradley Church
Brit M
Ron Radle

SWEATY SEX: A Sex & Sports Anthology is OUT!!


You can now purchase SWEATY SEX: A Sex and Sports Anthology at Ravenous Romance. Go to: http://www.ravenousromance.com
You can find the cover on the front page or under the Real Man Romance section!!
I hope you enjoy my story - Mixed Doubles - a steamy tennis story that is on and off the court hottness!!
Synopsis:
Who hasn't fantasized about hot, sweaty sex with an athlete? Or a teammate? The Sweaty Sex Anthology gives you a whole book of gay and straight erotic short stories that explore these fantasies, including:
A university girl has a hot crush on a sexy swimmer she sees at practice each morning and wants to put the moves on him before she can make any more mistakes.
A lusty reporter is determined to get the scoop on a hunky foreign hockey player but finds some sexy surprises instead.
A young wrestler goes to the mat with the man of his dreams.
Sexy football players, tennis players, baseball players, basketball junkies, martial artists and bowlers all explore their naughtiest, dirtiest fantasies. Lusty athletes gladly exert themselves, pushing their bodies, and each other, and aren't afraid to get a little bit sweaty.
Contributors:
John Jokel
Brandi Woodlawn
Roxy Harte
Nicole Dennis
Heidi Champa
David Montoya
J. L. Benet
Alexandra Rowan
Jen Bluekissed
Bradley Church
Brit M
Ron Radle

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Positive Rejection Letter

A hopeful bit of news lightened up my morning yesterday when I opened my email and started going through them. One was an editor from Samhain where I sent in my story, Familiar Protection, for possible consideration.

While the first part did have the mention she wasn't accepting it as is, she gave me a lot of support and interest in my story and the characters, Gideon and Layla. She mentioned exactly what she would like to see improved in the story and I totally agree. This was a short story where I concentrated on the action and conflict. The characters were there, but not their inner thoughts and some reasons behind their reactions and behaviors. She saw that and pointed it out to me.

Now, I am going through the story line by line, scene by scene. I see where I wish to add more scenes and character information. I finished a wonderful scene before the three brothers before Gideon is stolen away by his lady. And opened the one night of torture to two nights to increase the pressure on Gideon and his brothers, but gave him a chance to find his lady in her dreams.

Hopefully, this will all end up for the better and increase my chances. Once all this is done, I'm definitely sending it back to Samhain with hopes that she'll love the changes as much as I will.

A Positive Rejection Letter

A hopeful bit of news lightened up my morning yesterday when I opened my email and started going through them. One was an editor from Samhain where I sent in my story, Familiar Protection, for possible consideration.

While the first part did have the mention she wasn't accepting it as is, she gave me a lot of support and interest in my story and the characters, Gideon and Layla. She mentioned exactly what she would like to see improved in the story and I totally agree. This was a short story where I concentrated on the action and conflict. The characters were there, but not their inner thoughts and some reasons behind their reactions and behaviors. She saw that and pointed it out to me.

Now, I am going through the story line by line, scene by scene. I see where I wish to add more scenes and character information. I finished a wonderful scene before the three brothers before Gideon is stolen away by his lady. And opened the one night of torture to two nights to increase the pressure on Gideon and his brothers, but gave him a chance to find his lady in her dreams.

Hopefully, this will all end up for the better and increase my chances. Once all this is done, I'm definitely sending it back to Samhain with hopes that she'll love the changes as much as I will.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Random Thoughts

So many random thoughts going through my head, even with my new medication cutting down on the majority of them. It's been a while since I last posted and for that, I apologize. Still getting used to the whole blogging thing.

What has been going on? What have I written down? Anything interesting... Anything that could become something?

I'm not sure... Random pieces of various stories come to my mind and then get jotted down. Snippets of a scene or possible character. They're not all from one story. Once again, as with most things, they are various stories... various ideas.

Part of me fears my new medication, while helping to control my depression and anxiety, dampers my creativity and writing. No one knows exactly all that goes on in the brain... Could creativy, the key section of a writer's mind, be held within the same areas as depression and anxiety? I know the medication slows down a libido... Could it also control the fantasies that helped guide me through stories?

After another Valentine's day spent alone... it has become just another calendar day for me over the years... I wonder if that will remain so.

Hmm... You can tell my current mood from this, so for now... I will depart and figure out what to do with things.

Random Thoughts

So many random thoughts going through my head, even with my new medication cutting down on the majority of them. It's been a while since I last posted and for that, I apologize. Still getting used to the whole blogging thing.

What has been going on? What have I written down? Anything interesting... Anything that could become something?

I'm not sure... Random pieces of various stories come to my mind and then get jotted down. Snippets of a scene or possible character. They're not all from one story. Once again, as with most things, they are various stories... various ideas.

Part of me fears my new medication, while helping to control my depression and anxiety, dampers my creativity and writing. No one knows exactly all that goes on in the brain... Could creativy, the key section of a writer's mind, be held within the same areas as depression and anxiety? I know the medication slows down a libido... Could it also control the fantasies that helped guide me through stories?

After another Valentine's day spent alone... it has become just another calendar day for me over the years... I wonder if that will remain so.

Hmm... You can tell my current mood from this, so for now... I will depart and figure out what to do with things.