Kimberly Packard's Blog

As a PR person during the day, I’m usually the one prepping people for an interview, not taking part in it myself. So it was pretty cool when the folks from Voyage Dallas featured me in the Art & Life section. Click the link below to read. Enjoy!

 

Art & Life with Kimberly Packard

Sometimes, being a writer is a lot like, well, eating. Except that we tend to be the kind of human who lives on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Like a lot of them. Morning, noon and night.

Don’t get me wrong, we love the PB&Js or else we wouldn’t be eating them. But every now and then, we need to try something new. That PB&J we live on suddenly isn’t making us hungry for the next sandwich. It’s just … well, there. And then we find ourselves craving something else … maybe a scrambled egg sandwich for example.

(Is anyone else getting hungry …?)

Meet my scrambled egg sandwich The Crazy Yates. This is a Christmas novella about Callie Yates, a young woman who takes care of her agoraphobic father and three teenage siblings. They’ve gotten by well enough in their small West Texas town until she learns that the store where she works is closing in the new year, and the employment market there isn’t exactly hopping. Does Callie tell her family the news, or give them one last Merry Christmas?

It felt good to write something new and to take a break from editing Pardon Falls and writing Vortex. I loved trying my hand at family drama, and writing a holiday story while in the heat of summer was a fun challenge. And you know what – after finishing that story, I was even hungrier for Pardon Falls!

I hope you enjoy reading The Crazy Yates as much as I enjoyed writing it!

K

For the most part, writing is not a contact sport. You rarely see two authors duking it out. And if there is bad blood, an author would be more likely to create a character in the other author’s likeness and kill him off in a horrendously satisfying way (think of that as our version of a voodoo doll).

Despite our gentle nature, authors need a win sometimes. Especially this one.

I’ve been feeling a bit like a hamster stuck in a wheel. My second novel wasn’t behaving and with each draft of it, I felt like I was making it worse, not better. So I did the best thing for that novel, my sanity and my laptop (because it was about to go flying out the window) and I put that story aside.

I started writing something completely fresh. A new story with new characters. I reminded myself that I’m writing a first draft, not a final draft, giving me permission to write without judgement. And while there’s notes to “Add Sciencey Stuff” and some plots to nowhere, I’m enjoying the rush of new words flying out of my fingertips.

Then earlier this summer, I put that novel on pause when I signed on to be part of a holiday anthology. This is the turning point in my story. With a snow cone in hand and Christmas tunes in my headphones, I wrote what I think (I hope) is a pretty good story. While I was working on that story, a good friend and critique partner was reading my second novel, and I think she’s put her finger on what was bothering me with it.

So with my Christmas story done and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for my second novel, I picked back up where I left off on my third and am now closing in on finishing that first draft.

With all the “losing” I’ve been feeling over the past couple of years, it’s nice to finally feel like I have one in the win column.

Oh summer, we barely knew ya. Just as we were getting used to staying up late on a school night and have figured out the perfect antidote to beating snow-cone induced brain freeze, we start hearing that dreaded phrase … Back to School.

Authors go back to school in a sense. Each time we start a new story with new characters we feel a bit of that first-day-of-school apprehension.

For me, it’s a bittersweet feeling. I get excited with the promise of making new friends and learning something new while writing, but I also feel a bit nostalgic about saying good-bye to the last book and the characters that I held dear.

But, much like moving up to the next grade level, we can’t stay back and repeat the same old book – no matter how much we’re going to miss nap time. So, suck it up buttercup and sharpen those No. 2 pencils and pull out that Big Chief tablet. Here’s five ways I found to battle the back-to-school/new-book-blues.

Refill your Trapper Keeper. Ahhh, that new school supplies smell. There’s something special about starting with a fresh set of supplies. Writing a new book is a lot like that. I’ll pick up a new journal just for that story, or a fresh set of pens and a new plot board. Sometimes playing with that new pencil bag is just what you need to get you excited about the new school year book.

Get to know your new friends. Just like making new school friends, authors need to take the time to get to know their new characters. I like to “interview” my characters on paper. I pretend to be Oprah and sit them down on the couch in my head and really get to know what makes them tick. This exercise will make your characters jump off the page for a reader.

Know where your classes are. Ever walked into English class only to be surrounded by Bunsen burners and molecule mobiles hanging from the ceiling? Yeah, pretty embarrassing. It’s even more embarrassing when you keep getting lost in that new world you’re building. Spend some time mapping out this new story world – literally – so that when the words are flowing, you don’t have to stop and wonder if your characters needs to turn left or right.

Make nice with the teacher. There’s a reason we give an apple to the teacher. It’s to nourish our relationship for the remainder of the school year. The same is true for an author’s muse. Make nice early in the writing process and the muse will look away when you feel the urge to shoot spitballs at the ceiling.

Don’t forget recess! That feeling of running free in the school yard after a long stint of sitting behind a desk is refreshing. Authors need it, too. Whether it’s walking the dog, going for a run, curling up with a book or getting together with other writer friends, recess replenishes and renews the soul.

With each book we write, that back-to-school feeling will become less scary and more thrilling. And, like real life, some school years – and books – will be tougher than others (looking at you Junior High) and some will coast by in a blink of an eye (hello Senior Year), but what you’ll find is that each story teaches us something, and makes us better pupils for the next one.

Oh the weather outside is delightful, and campfires are roasting hot dogs and s’mores.

That’s not how the song goes, right?

As authors, we find ourselves writing stories about places and times that are completely out of sync with where our bodies are sitting. Most of the time, we get so drawn into the fictive dream that we don’t even seem to notice that the dog is giving you “the look” and that the cat has knocked your perfectly stacked manuscript to the floor. Again.

But some stories are so dependent upon a seasonal spirit that you need a little outside assistance.

Not exactly a winter wonderland …

I’m currently working on a short story for a Christmas anthology. While the story, characters and conflict are flowing, I’m realizing that it’s lacking that … well, Christmas magic. So how do you channel St. Nick instead of Scrooge when you’re writing poolside?

Here’s some tips that’s helping me. No eggnog necessary.

1. Hark The Herald Angels

This is a pretty easy one, especially since so many authors use music to get into a mood. I’ve said before that I listen to what my characters are listening to, and during the holidays, Christmas carols would be on heavy rotation. So, break out that Charlie Brown Christmas CD, wake up the Little Drummer Boy and have an anything-but-Silent Night.

2. Fake a Little Arctic Blast

I live in Texas. It’s already 1-0-Hell outside. And, it will be that way until October. So how do you recall the feeling of cold, dry air on your skin? Go to the walk-in beer cooler! You can pretend to really study all the various beers while you acclimate yourself. How does it feel to take a deep breath of cold, burning air? Have you traded sweat for goose pimples? Good. Now grab your favorite six-pack to celebrate!

3. Haven’t Seen Elf in Six Months?

So Netflix might judge you a little, but call up some of your favorite holiday movies and immerse yourself in the setting and the feeling rather than the story. How do the Parkers decorate in “A Christmas Story” (I mean, who doesn’t see a Leg Lamp and think of Christmas?!)? Does “It’s a Wonderful Life” give you the content, warm family feeling? Or, do you revel in the silliness of “Elf”? Find what puts you in the mood and break out the DVD or stream it.

4. Remember the Reason for the Season

Whatever is the reason you celebrate the holiday season, before you delve into your holiday story spend a few minutes meditating on the stories and traditions that you and your family practice. Seeing yourself into a spiritual mindset may help you call up a deeper feeling about the holidays.

5. Deck the Halls … Or, at Least Your Writing Cave

If you’re like me, holiday decorations don’t stick around much past January 1 (assuming they make it out of the box to begin with), so this suggestion might be a bit painful for some of you. But, if you’re having a really hard time getting into the spirit, pull out one or two of your favorite decorations. It doesn’t have to be the whole tree or menorah, but maybe that special ornament that makes you think of a particularly fun Christmas, or a dreidel or nutcracker. Or, tap the strongest of senses – scent. Grab that cinnamon candle or a spruce air freshener to smell the season.

See this as an opportunity to observe this harried season through a different lens. Oftentimes we’re so busy hustling from one party to another, or bustling about getting last minute gifts that we don’t get a chance to engage the nuances of the holiday season.

Do you have any tips for getting into a seasonal mindset when writing? How do you channel summer in the dead of winter?

Cheers!

K

You probably think that when writers aren’t writing, we’re eating, sleeping or thinking about  writing, or heck, even reading. But you know, we’re human. When our brains are done with output, we flip on the TV and veg just like everyone else. I bet some of us even binge on TV (because even an athlete has to dig into a bag of Cheetos every now and then).

We shouldn’t feel guilty for consuming the entire bag if what we’re watching can help us with our writing. There are some really good shows out there now. So good in fact, that I call them “literary TV.” (I should trademark that or something)

Here’s a list of what I consider to be some of the best shows for writers. Of course, I’ll admit I haven’t watched Game of Thrones yet (I know, I know!) and shows like The Wire  and House of Cards have been on my list for a while.

So this flawed list is based on what I’ve seen because, you know, I can’t just watch TV all the time, I have to write. (Oh and there’s probably spoiler alerts)

The Americans (on FX)

There’s so many good things about this show that I could spend an entire blog just on that. But, I’ll hit the highlights on why you should watch it.

If you don’t know the premise, it’s the story of Elizabeth and Phillip, your average, everyday suburbans 80s couple who just happen to be Soviet spies. This show skews our perception of protagonist/antagonist because we’re seeing the story unfold from Elizabeth and Phillip’s eyes (mostly). It also shows all the different roles we play and how relationships evolve.

Breaking Bad (You can probably find this now on any streaming service)

You should watch Breaking Bad for many reasons, but possibly the best reason to watch it is the over-arching story arch. Through the five seasons of this show, we see a man, Walter White, who we really sympathize with in the beginning – as he’s literally fumbling his way into cooking meth, turn into a monster by the end. This show is a great study of character, of a man who starts off with the intention to provide for him family, but ends up ruining it all.

Shameless (Showtime)

This is the story of the Gallaghers, a family from the southside of Chicago who just can’t seem to catch a break. What this show is a master of is letting the characters win some, but then lose even more. And, as much as we cheer for the Gallaghers to win, they really are their own worst enemies.

It’s said that writers are meant to create characters they love very, very much, only to get them stuck up a tree and then throw rocks at them. The writers of Shameless does that very well. We love each and every dysfunctional Gallagher and it tugs at our hearts when they mess up.

We also see the complex nature of character here. For example, as the oldest Fiona takes on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, but a night of bad judgement puts a younger brother in a life-and-death situation.

Mr. Robot (USA)

This semi-sleeper was a summer series in 2015. Watch Mr. Robot for its unreliable narrator, crazy twists and turns, red herrings and basically every other plot device done exceptionally well. Also, watch this to marvel at how Christian Slater appears to be the modern Dorian Gray. Seriously. He has not aged.

The Man in the High Castle (Amazon)

OK, so I might be cheating just a little bit here because this is actually a book, but the reason this made the list was the setting. If you don’t know the story, The Man in the High Castle is an alternate-reality story of America if the Axis powers had won World War II. Half of the country belongs to Nazi Germany, the other half Japan. When you’re watching this, pay attention to the colors, especially a particular scene when the characters get a glimpse into our reality – the difference here are noticeable.

The other reason I put this show on the list is to watch the , a high-ranking American-born Nazi. This man needs to win every award out there for one scene in particular – when he learns some devastating news about his son. I plan to go back and watch this scene just to take notes on his facial expressions and how he tries to speak, but words are failing him. Amazing.

I’m sure there’s many more shows out there that I’m missing or haven’t seen. The point of this is that sometimes we have to break outside of our medium to find inspiration, and that’s cool if you take that opportunity to pay attention to how the actors are processing the script – especially if they are good actors. This can be incredibly helpful in our own writing.

So, tell me, what shows am I missing that you think aid in writing?

Ahh … March 15. The Ides of March. For those of us who had to memorize Marc Anthony’s monologue from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, this is the day when the Roman leader was brutally murdered by those closest to him.

“Friends, Romans, Countrymen … lend me your ear. I come to bury Caesar, not praise him …”

Yeah, I got that in my head, but don’t ask me where I parked today.

That play had always stuck with me through the years, possibly because it was the story of a man’s unbridled ambition cut down by those he trusted.

When I first sat down to write Phoenix, the perfect season to launch the story was early spring – sometime when it was still cold in Chicago, but warming in Texas. So, I started it on March 15. During that very first scene, Amanda muttered, “Et tu, Brute?” And that’s when I realized that her story was all about ambition and betrayal. (Fun fact: Amanda is a bit of a Shakespeare nerd. During her first meeting with Foster she quotes Billy again).

Now, in all fairness, that line ended up on the cutting room floor, but every year on March 15, I think about that moment, about those words uttered by a character who predicted her own tale, and I give thanks to Amanda, Alex and Shiloh for letting me tell their story.

This morning, around 3:30 a.m., my Muse snuck back into the house. And, with the grace and agility of a drunk elephant she woke me with what I hope is the answer I’ve been searching for and wasting countless hours and words for. The magic fix to Pardon Falls.

I’ve not been shy about something not being exactly right with the manuscript. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it … like tasting a recipe and knowing it’s missing something, but not being able to define what.

How did I find this missing something? What does it mean for the story? And, where the heck has my Muse been?

I’ll start with the first question. Well, I sorta copied off someone else’s homework (thanks, Chrissy! *waves*). OK, not really, but a dear writer friend who I look up to brought something to our writers’ group and I guess that something stuck in my brain (not to mention it was damn good!). I found that missing something by being present and listening to other writers. We never know what sticks with us and wakes us up at 3:30 a.m.

What does this mean for the story? Well, I won’t go into details here, but it will put Amanda in a bigger bind than what was already written into the story. You know what they say: write a character you love, get that character up a tree, throw rocks at her and let her figure her own way down. I found some pretty big rocks to chuck at her.

Where has my Muse been? Well, after sending her to her room (because this was 3:30 a.m. y’all) we had a chat and turns out, I scared her off. I was trying to force her into having all the answers and she didn’t. I know, I know, you wait for inspiration and you’ll be waiting your whole life. But, I didn’t wait, I started working on something else. Reignited my love of words and just waited for her to come home.

It’s a nice feeling. Sitting here with one story eager to be fixed and finished and another story halfway ready. But it’s more than that. The three or four stories still in their fetal stage in my mind will now have a soft, warm place to grow and develop.

My Muse is back. And, so am I.

Dear Scrivener,

I want to love you. Truly, I do.

Like the cute guy who rescues kittens, knits with grannies and knows just how to tell me my butt looks big while simultaneously boosting my self-esteem … I love the concept of you, but in some ways I fear you might be a unicorn.

I admit, you scared me a bit during our first date. I’m the small town girl, you’re the big city boy who pulled up in your fancy car full of cork boards, notecards and binders and I just felt like I couldn’t live up.

So, I ignored your calls and went back to what I knew, what was safe. Boring and, well a little, dumb, but I knew what to expect from Microsoft Word.

Until …

I don’t know, maybe Word is breaking up with me. I’ll tell you this, if he loses any of my current novel, I’m not afraid to turn into a Carrie Underwood song.

Before we come to that, I think maybe it’s time for us to try this again. I can take some lessons, let you lead me into organization and (*gasp*) plotting.

I feel ready this time. I’m more mature, and, I think maybe I’m ready for us to go steady. Now don’t get too excited, you still have to woo me (Can you write for me? Because if you can, I’ll totally have your baby), but I think if you’re willing to give me a second try, I’m in.

Smooches,

Kim

January 2. Two days into 2016 and I haven’t managed to spill coffee on it or break anything. That’s a record.

Sitting down to write this, I looked back at last year’s New Year’s post … which wasn’t that hard because it seems I’ve largely forgotten about my blog and that was like, five posts back (bonus to being a slacker I guess).

A year ago, I said that 2015 was going to be the year of endings for me and that I would finish the follow up to Phoenix even if it nearly killed me. Well, friends, I probably finished it a hundred times, but it’s not ready for the world. I’m still breathing, but as my dear friends Susie and Chrissy explained during intervention therapy our critique group, being stuck on that novel stalled my writing career. They were so right (I can hear them now … Love you ladies!).

So, I put it aside and started something else. This story has been in my head for a couple of years, and I did something crazy and plotted it out at West Texas Writers’ Academy last summer. I’m now at the midway point of the story and I continue to be amazed at the sheer joy of writing new words, learning new characters and the thrill of seeing a few detours in my original plotboard but getting right back on track.

Last year was also a lesson of learning my limits. I’m not Super Woman. Heck, I’m not even super woman. I have the same 24 hours a day as everyone else (maybe less since I seem to need more sleep than the average human), and truthfully I’m not as efficient with that 24 hours as I could be. Room for growth right here, obviously.

Developing an author brand identity was big on my to-do list for 2015, and it kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list until I met the lovely ladies at Y&P PR, a boutique firm that specializes in author and artist branding. They save lives people. And I love the logo they’ve developed for me and how they are telling me “Sweetie, scoot over, you’re Tweeting all over the place, let us drive.” Stay tuned … Cheryl and Jo are going to help me adult.

Ooooh … Shiny!

I guess this means we’ve come to the point in this blog when I begrudgingly make resolutions. For years, I’ve been against them. Why wait until a magical date on a calendar to change something – why not do it now?

But, well, we’ve seen how much good that’s done me … And I’ve limited it to three. People remember three things so much better than seven, or 22. OK, deep breath, don’t look down (you can look down).

Finish my current WIP. I’m at the halfway point, you say. How hard can that be to write the other half? Probably not since I know everything, but my butt and the seat need to shift poles and become magnetic for a change.
Write every day. I’ve long been a weekend writer. Working full time – especially in a field that requires me to use words – makes it hard to come home and write. So, maybe I’ll get in the habit of bringing my laptop to work and during lunch, spend 45 minutes banging out a few words (sorry, coworkers!). Will I always be able to do that? Nope. But it’s kinda like when I put my workout clothes on my bathroom counter the night before. If I have to keep staring at them, I’ll start to feel guilty.
Lock up the inner critic. I’ve done a pretty decent job of this with my current story. I have to constantly remind myself that I’m writing a first draft, not the final version. That adding any words – even if they end up getting deleted later – is good. You cannot edit a blank page.

Bonus Round: I’m pretty sure I would get death threats if I didn’t put this out there. I hope in 2016 to finally be able to publish Pardon Falls. There. I said it. Truthfully, I can feel Amanda pouting that she’s in time out, so maybe when the first draft of my current project is done, I can come back and magically fix everything.

There you have it folks. Three, well four, little resolutions. It’s not like I’m giving up caffeine, running a marathon or anything crazy like that. These are resolutions to help me climb out of the hole I seemed to have fallen in. Sure, I may need a boost or a hand, but maybe clamoring my way out will be just what I need to feel like Super Woman.

Cheers!