Karin Shah's Blog - Posts Tagged "romance"
Life's a Pitch
I’m counting the days until the RWA National conference. I go almost every year. I learn a ton from the workshops, have a great time with friends, discover new authors at the booksignings, and generally recharge my writing juices.
Then of course, there’s the event which we all sweat — the pitch session.
Can you hear the low murmur in the air? That’s authors practicing their elevator pitches. Three magical lines that will open the door to the “requested material ticket.” I actually got published as a result of a pitch session (though it was at my local conference. Go Central Ohio Fiction Writers!)
I have yet to work on my pitch for national — though I assure you I will.
If you’re a novice pitcher, let me say first, relax. Editors and agents are just people. He or she probably got up in the morning in the same hotel you did and went through the dressing ritual same as you. She (though probably not he) worried about the run in her stocking and the chip in her toenail polish, or that she grabbed the navy shoes instead of the black.
If you fumble around it’s ok. You’re not being graded on your public speaking. The editor or agent will probably lead you though it if you need it, and if they are not understanding and helpful — you probably don’t want to work with him or her anyway.
Second, remember the basics: Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Popular fiction is not about two people struggling to love themselves and accept love. (Most of my books have this theme at their core, but that isn’t what sells a book.)
The pitch for STARJACKED IS: After the murders of his wife and unborn child, (M) an undecover operative burns to erradicate every piece of pirate scum in the galaxy, (G) but when his life is saved by a beautiful space pirate, he finds himself falling for the very person he’s sworn to destroy. (C)
Look at your pitch. If you can’t indentify the GMC neither can the editor or agent.
Third, relax. Editors and agents will usually request at least a partial. That’s why they’re there after all.
Fourth, smile. It will relax you.
So all you pitchers out there, got some advice or want to share your short pitch? I’d love to hear them!
And please feel free to suggest captions or send pet pix to the non-humanoid support crew page! http://karinshah.wordpress.com
See you in DC!
Karin
Then of course, there’s the event which we all sweat — the pitch session.
Can you hear the low murmur in the air? That’s authors practicing their elevator pitches. Three magical lines that will open the door to the “requested material ticket.” I actually got published as a result of a pitch session (though it was at my local conference. Go Central Ohio Fiction Writers!)
I have yet to work on my pitch for national — though I assure you I will.
If you’re a novice pitcher, let me say first, relax. Editors and agents are just people. He or she probably got up in the morning in the same hotel you did and went through the dressing ritual same as you. She (though probably not he) worried about the run in her stocking and the chip in her toenail polish, or that she grabbed the navy shoes instead of the black.
If you fumble around it’s ok. You’re not being graded on your public speaking. The editor or agent will probably lead you though it if you need it, and if they are not understanding and helpful — you probably don’t want to work with him or her anyway.
Second, remember the basics: Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Popular fiction is not about two people struggling to love themselves and accept love. (Most of my books have this theme at their core, but that isn’t what sells a book.)
The pitch for STARJACKED IS: After the murders of his wife and unborn child, (M) an undecover operative burns to erradicate every piece of pirate scum in the galaxy, (G) but when his life is saved by a beautiful space pirate, he finds himself falling for the very person he’s sworn to destroy. (C)
Look at your pitch. If you can’t indentify the GMC neither can the editor or agent.
Third, relax. Editors and agents will usually request at least a partial. That’s why they’re there after all.
Fourth, smile. It will relax you.
So all you pitchers out there, got some advice or want to share your short pitch? I’d love to hear them!
And please feel free to suggest captions or send pet pix to the non-humanoid support crew page! http://karinshah.wordpress.com
See you in DC!
Karin
Thanks for a great signing!
Thanks buckets to everyone who visited me and bought an autographed copy of BLOOD AND KISSES, or just chatted about books with me, at the RWA 2012 literacy signing! I had a blast meeting you all and it was for an awesome cause!
All Ebook 50% off at www.SoulMatePublishing.com
Today only! To celebrate Soul Mate's one year anniversary, all ebooks are 50% off at www.SoulMatePublishing.com. Just enter promo code HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. This brings most to around $2.00, including my BLOOD AND KISSES.
Thrust into the role of witches' Champion after the untimely death of her mother, Thalia Kent is a witch in over her head -- believing herself not half the witch her mother was. When a vampire murders Thalia's mortal cousin, Thalia is forced to ask Gideon Damek, immortal vampire for help.
Gideon has lived with the dark secret of his own bloody past for thousands of years. He knows he's far too dangerous to get involved with anyone, let alone a young, maddeningly attractive witch, still a vision of her death compels him to agree, but cornering a deadly rogue isn't their worst problem -- witch blood is poisonous to vampires and falling for each other could be the last thing they ever do...
Thrust into the role of witches' Champion after the untimely death of her mother, Thalia Kent is a witch in over her head -- believing herself not half the witch her mother was. When a vampire murders Thalia's mortal cousin, Thalia is forced to ask Gideon Damek, immortal vampire for help.
Gideon has lived with the dark secret of his own bloody past for thousands of years. He knows he's far too dangerous to get involved with anyone, let alone a young, maddeningly attractive witch, still a vision of her death compels him to agree, but cornering a deadly rogue isn't their worst problem -- witch blood is poisonous to vampires and falling for each other could be the last thing they ever do...
You don't know you're beautiful
I hear all kinds of snark on the blogosphere about romances and the "trope" of the heroine who is beautiful, but doesn't think she is. Or the perfectly chiseled hero who is too gorgeous to be believed. Why, various writers and bloggers have asked do we need "violet/emerald/sliver(your fabulous color here)-eyed perfection? Where, they wonder, are the imperfect heroes and heroines?
I have two ideas about this. 1. Readers want to be the heroine and they want to sleep with the hero, so who would choose to be plain? Or prefer a less then sexy hero. Many of us have that in "real" life. Genre fiction is not about reality. It is about fantasy. And there's nothing wrong with that.Further, the heroine needs to be sympathetic and conceit is rarely(read never) cited as a rooting interest.
2. If we're writing in deep pov, we are seeing the heroine and the heroine through the eyes of a character whom the author is pairing with the other. How believable is it that a man looks at a woman, marvels at her fat thighs and bad complexion and decides to sweep her off her feet? The hero *must* percieve the heroine as madly attractive/sexy/beautiful/(your superlative here), otherwise the relationship is not believable. We want the reader to suspend disbelief, not have to throw it down the garbage disposal.
What do you think? How do you prefer your heroine and heroes? I like mine gorgeous and sexy (but unknowing*g*)and I wouldn't have it any other way.:-)
Karin
I have two ideas about this. 1. Readers want to be the heroine and they want to sleep with the hero, so who would choose to be plain? Or prefer a less then sexy hero. Many of us have that in "real" life. Genre fiction is not about reality. It is about fantasy. And there's nothing wrong with that.Further, the heroine needs to be sympathetic and conceit is rarely(read never) cited as a rooting interest.
2. If we're writing in deep pov, we are seeing the heroine and the heroine through the eyes of a character whom the author is pairing with the other. How believable is it that a man looks at a woman, marvels at her fat thighs and bad complexion and decides to sweep her off her feet? The hero *must* percieve the heroine as madly attractive/sexy/beautiful/(your superlative here), otherwise the relationship is not believable. We want the reader to suspend disbelief, not have to throw it down the garbage disposal.
What do you think? How do you prefer your heroine and heroes? I like mine gorgeous and sexy (but unknowing*g*)and I wouldn't have it any other way.:-)
Karin
IN LIKE A LION releases December 19, 2012
Got my confirmed release date for IN LIKE A LION, the first in my Chimera Chronicles Paranormal Romance series!
The date is -- Drumroll please --
December 19, 2012! That's right, take Jake home for Christmas! He's never had a home, so I'm sure he'll be very grateful!:-)
The date is -- Drumroll please --
December 19, 2012! That's right, take Jake home for Christmas! He's never had a home, so I'm sure he'll be very grateful!:-)
My trailer for IN LIKE A LION
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iLsLAtOMmhM
IN LIKE A LION, the first in my Paranormal Romance series The Chimera Chronicles, releases digitally Wednesday 12/19/12 and in print Summer 2013.
Please like and share if you get a moment!
IN LIKE A LION, the first in my Paranormal Romance series The Chimera Chronicles, releases digitally Wednesday 12/19/12 and in print Summer 2013.
Please like and share if you get a moment!
Shiny things week of Jan 14th
1. A fabulous review from Night Owl Reviews! Please be a pal and check it out, like, tweet and/or share!:-)
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Rev...
2. DH completed his first marathon! I am super impressed!
3. I'm a Ghost Adventures fan, though I watch from the skeptics pov. I really like Zak Aaron, and Nick, and find them hilarious. This past episode at Wyomining Frontier Prison was laugh out loud, as they have a little "stake-out" while waiting to speak to a home owner, and apparently a bunch of men sitting around in a mobile home eating snacks get a uh, gassy.*g*
4. Our basenji puppy is hopefully going to be born in a week or so. We're hoping for a brindle male. I would love to get a dog from the humane society, but with out allergies, it's not possible.:-( Our vizsla really needs a friend. she's not eating very well. Oh, she's eating treats, just not her regular food.
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Rev...
2. DH completed his first marathon! I am super impressed!
3. I'm a Ghost Adventures fan, though I watch from the skeptics pov. I really like Zak Aaron, and Nick, and find them hilarious. This past episode at Wyomining Frontier Prison was laugh out loud, as they have a little "stake-out" while waiting to speak to a home owner, and apparently a bunch of men sitting around in a mobile home eating snacks get a uh, gassy.*g*
4. Our basenji puppy is hopefully going to be born in a week or so. We're hoping for a brindle male. I would love to get a dog from the humane society, but with out allergies, it's not possible.:-( Our vizsla really needs a friend. she's not eating very well. Oh, she's eating treats, just not her regular food.
Fight scenes, anyone?
Fight scenes are one of the hardest scenes to write. How do you write a scene that requires so much cause end effect and linear sequencing without boring (or losing) the reader?
I start in layers.
Layer 1. Setting, we have to know where we are in order to know what's going on. A scene in an alley is different from a scene in a warehouse. If the walls of the alley are made of brick and my hero gets pinned up against it, he might be scraped. Sounds will travel differently. The items in the alley are props that act as obstacles or weapons of opportunity for the hero, the heroine or their enemies.
1.a Costume, if my hero is wearing a leather jacket, he's probably not going to feel the prick of the bricks through it. He definitely will if he's wearing a cotton t-shirt. Clothing can be tricky, it's not always easy to remember what you put on your hero. Proof reading for continuity is extremely important here.
2. Blocking, who did what to whom? This should be the easiest part, but making sure actions happen in order is harder than you might think. The hero is hit, then he feels the pain/blood/whatever. Describing each action can also be difficult. Not everybody knows what a side kick is, or any of the other martial arts terms. Descriptions should be as succinct as possible, a move that took under a second, can't take more than a sentence to describe or the reader may feel bogged down. A scene with a lot of moves may require a simple bushing over like "suddenly the biker was on his knees, his arm twisted behind his back." Check out this YouTube video of British martial artist stunt man/actor, Scott Adkins doing fight choreography for the movie Wolverine. (Notice he only has a wire on in the very last move:-)) Imagine describing some of these moves! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mog-oC...
3.Emotion, this is one of the most critical parts of a fight scene. The reader has to feel something, so the character needs to react and feel, as well. Even if he's just numb or detached, the reader has to know. When writing alpha heroes emotion can be one of the hardest things to convey during a fight scene. These are strong guys. They don't feel the fear or pain the way a regular person would. A good way to bring in the reader emotionally is to have the heroine react, or bystanders. Or put the heroine or his best friend in danger, or a child, pet, etc. They won't worry for themselves, but they have to worry for others. (Even if they cover it really well.:-) )
4. (Plot)Change, a fight scene, like a love scene, should not be gratuitous. When it's over, something has to have changed, whether it's the relationship between the hero and the heroine, an elevation in the danger, or a huge plot point. In my book IN LIKE A LION Jake and Anjali get into a car chase on a highway paralleling the Mojave National Preserve. They are driven off the road. Jake fights in almost pitch darkness and in the end they are forced into the vast, potentially deadly desert.
So if fight scenes are so complicated, why do I love them? 1.I'm a total fangirl of Martial Arts movies (ask me about Undisputed III) 2. I do Taekwondo. 3. They can: keep the pace going while raising the stakes, increase rooting interest, advance the relationship of the hero and heroine, and be great fun to read.
And you? Fight scenes, love 'em or hate 'em?
I start in layers.
Layer 1. Setting, we have to know where we are in order to know what's going on. A scene in an alley is different from a scene in a warehouse. If the walls of the alley are made of brick and my hero gets pinned up against it, he might be scraped. Sounds will travel differently. The items in the alley are props that act as obstacles or weapons of opportunity for the hero, the heroine or their enemies.
1.a Costume, if my hero is wearing a leather jacket, he's probably not going to feel the prick of the bricks through it. He definitely will if he's wearing a cotton t-shirt. Clothing can be tricky, it's not always easy to remember what you put on your hero. Proof reading for continuity is extremely important here.
2. Blocking, who did what to whom? This should be the easiest part, but making sure actions happen in order is harder than you might think. The hero is hit, then he feels the pain/blood/whatever. Describing each action can also be difficult. Not everybody knows what a side kick is, or any of the other martial arts terms. Descriptions should be as succinct as possible, a move that took under a second, can't take more than a sentence to describe or the reader may feel bogged down. A scene with a lot of moves may require a simple bushing over like "suddenly the biker was on his knees, his arm twisted behind his back." Check out this YouTube video of British martial artist stunt man/actor, Scott Adkins doing fight choreography for the movie Wolverine. (Notice he only has a wire on in the very last move:-)) Imagine describing some of these moves! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mog-oC...
3.Emotion, this is one of the most critical parts of a fight scene. The reader has to feel something, so the character needs to react and feel, as well. Even if he's just numb or detached, the reader has to know. When writing alpha heroes emotion can be one of the hardest things to convey during a fight scene. These are strong guys. They don't feel the fear or pain the way a regular person would. A good way to bring in the reader emotionally is to have the heroine react, or bystanders. Or put the heroine or his best friend in danger, or a child, pet, etc. They won't worry for themselves, but they have to worry for others. (Even if they cover it really well.:-) )
4. (Plot)Change, a fight scene, like a love scene, should not be gratuitous. When it's over, something has to have changed, whether it's the relationship between the hero and the heroine, an elevation in the danger, or a huge plot point. In my book IN LIKE A LION Jake and Anjali get into a car chase on a highway paralleling the Mojave National Preserve. They are driven off the road. Jake fights in almost pitch darkness and in the end they are forced into the vast, potentially deadly desert.
So if fight scenes are so complicated, why do I love them? 1.I'm a total fangirl of Martial Arts movies (ask me about Undisputed III) 2. I do Taekwondo. 3. They can: keep the pace going while raising the stakes, increase rooting interest, advance the relationship of the hero and heroine, and be great fun to read.
And you? Fight scenes, love 'em or hate 'em?
Am I weird?
Another day, another blog spot, another chance to win a free copy of IN LIKE A LION.http://www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com/ and find out why I ask if I'm weird...
Another blog stop w my trailer and a short excerpt.
I'm a bit late posting today because of a morning commitment (Taekwondo pix and belt ceremony. I'm a purple belt now!)
But...Another day, another blog stop, another chance to enter to win a free ecopy of IN LIKE A LION.
Please tweet, like, share and comment!
http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.bl...
Happy Saturday!
But...Another day, another blog stop, another chance to enter to win a free ecopy of IN LIKE A LION.
Please tweet, like, share and comment!
http://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.bl...
Happy Saturday!
