Is it filled with action and drama?

Does it have romance? Or romantic elements?

Or does it focus on the relationships of the people (characters) in the book?

I’ve been thinking about drama lately.

How we love it in books, movies and on t.v. shows? But in real life, not so much.

How some are quick to put a book down because it has not enough drama? But what if a book has too much drama?

So much drama that’s it’s overwhelming and makes you actually (dare I say it…) put the book down?

Is there such a thing as too much drama?

Can you guess what’s it about?

How about now?

The title is tentatively called – Hearts & Arrows. It’s a light paranormal, women’s fiction story.

Why do you write in a particular genre? What attracted you to it? Do you like to read a genre you don’t or can’t write? Why? Would you like to try a different genre than you current write?

Here’s the breakdown:

I write in a variety of genre’s. But the ones I am drawn to most are paranormal, fantasy and contemporary. The most common element is romance.

I like paranormal and fantasy because I like to create worlds and languages and rules for magic. It is fun to create histories. It is fun to make up magic. Some of the first books that grabbed my attention were the fantasies and sci-fi books. What attracted me to the paranormal and fantasy book is the magic.

The thought of how the world would be different if magical creatures exist, if magic existed. And then the what if’s start. What if humans knew about it? What if they didn’t? What if…

I like to read psychological thrillers and mysteries but don’t know if I can quite do them justice. There is a lot of minute details and information and intrigue that goes on. And I think it takes special skill to blend everything that goes on in the story together.

I think Alfred Hitchcock also has something to do with it. I love how the creates the story and builds the tempo and adds in different elements and then nothing happens. And then bam – someone is offed or poisoned.

And I don’t think the question is “Would you like to try a different genre than you current write?” but “Will I try a different genre?”. The answer to that question is most definitely, probably, yes.

So I started working on Entrapped. Then I had a big computer crash.

I lost a few of my world building books/notebooks. I lost a lot of my music and videos and pictures. And I lost 22K on Entrapped. I started over last week and have made a bit of progress.

Recipe is going to be temporarily hiatused. I realize I’m starting in the wrong place. And this is going to be a series centered around this one restaurant/couple. I was actually writing book 2. So I’m going to do a bit of restructuring and…..

Plotting.

While I’m restructuring and reworking Recipe I’m going to work on my light paranormal story – Hearts and Arrows.

So the rest of my goals for the month are:

1. Get to 20% done on Hearts and Arrows.

2. Get 40% done on Entrapped.

3. Restructure Recipe

4. Transfer my worldbuilding info for my stories to a personal wiki.

5. Read 2 books

6. Continue working on my crafting projects.

• I wanted to finish Recipe for Love  and have it ready for submission by January 31st (today). – I ran into a few problems story wise and am still struggling with a few parts of the relationship dynamics of the story but I am making progress. Plus this story isn’t going to be as short as I had originally anticipated.
• I wanted to have  Entrapped sketched and outlined completely by the end of the month. – This is actually on step. I plan on starting working on this story next week.
• I wanted to eat healthier at work for at least 2 meal a week and work up to 3 meals a week. I work in a deli where this is a lot of temptations food wise – I am actually on track with this goal as well. I have 4 go to healthier choice meals.
• I planned on reading 2 books. – I read 3 books 11/22/63 by Stephen King, The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (this was a gift from a co-worker) and Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I have started on Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt as part of my books for February.
• I wanted to start on the blanket for Preemie Project set (booties, hats, blankets). – I have started on the blanket I am about a quarter-way through. It is a small blanket but I am working on another crafting project as well so that is also occupying my time.

How did you do on your January goals? What were the hits and misses? What surprised you? What goal or goals did you rethink or defer or remove , if any?

A culinary based story that has roots from my other passions – food and cooking.

And this is another one of the story sparks – Red Velvet Cake. It is simple but an easy recipe and everyone has their own twist for it. I figured it is something that could easily create a conflict between two foodie families that could possibly get out of hand. People can be very protective of their family recipes especially if it has been in the family for years.

What did you accomplish in 2011, what one thing would you change about last year, & What are your 2012 resolution goals?

What one thing would I change about last year?

One thing I would change about last year – balance.

I would focus on my goals and not allow unnecessary, needless or out of my control distractions divert me from my goals. I would also not be so singularly focused on my goals and pursuit of my goals that I would have more fun.

So the one thing I would change is to be more balanced. I would maintain my focus and drive but take more breaks to go outside, relax and have some fun.

Because being so singularly focused leads to burn out.

Truth Time:

Often I write 7 days a week instead of taking a break. And it could be editing or making notes or actually writing but doing something writing oriented. And for the goals group I’m in, you’re supposed to have 1 free day a week. But even doing that I didn’t progress as far as I would have liked. Burn-out was one reason which I think led to a lack of focus and motivation.

What I accomplished in 2011?

I have better control of my writing and where I want to go. I have a better road map and am not just throwing everything at the wall hoping something will stick. I have a better idea on what works for me and what my process is.

And what are my top goals for 2012?

Top 5 Writing Goals for 2012:
1. Write 2 hours a day on at least 5 days a week .
2. Blog at least 52 times
3. Read 26 books
4. Write 2 75K books (This will be in the light para series)
5. Write 2 Novellas (25-40K) (Fighting for love series – inspired by family research)

So what’s the one thing you would change about last year? What are your 2012 Goals? What did you accomplish in 2011?

If you want to check out how a few of my writing friends write:

* Alexia Reed * Angeleque Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Kimberly Farris *Kristen Koster *

This is a great photograph I found on flickr. I was searching of photos of Paris. And going through a few of my own for inspiration on an old story idea. But this particular photograph really made me pause.

• Finish Recipe for Love – have edited/beta’ed and ready for submission by Jan. 31.
• Have Entrapped sketched and outlined completely by end of the month.
• Begin eating healthier at work for at least 2 meal a week and work up to 3 meals a week.
• Read 2 books.
• Start blanket for Preemie Project set (booties, hats, blankets).

I’m listing them for three reasons:

1. to help hold myself accountable. If I put it out there, it’s more of a motivation to follow through  because it’s in black and white.

2. Because I said I would. This is the beginning of what will become a 2-part monthly feature on the blog (Month Goals/Month Accountability).

3. It’s also part of my mission to blog more and be more active on the blog.