Writing from Conception to Completion Using a Desk ~ Really?

My old desk

After using the same desk and office configuration for more than ten years, recently I decided it no longer fit my writing needs. I needed more working table space and less vertical storage for things to get lost in.

But what would I want? I went on a quest to find the perfect desk and matching storage space. Know what? I didn't find anything.

I liked this desk at Pottery Barn, but it didn't come with a matching storage unit. But now, armed with a concept or idea, I had something to work with. A lot like writing, don't you think? Once you have an idea, you can start working on it, right?

Hubby and my dad

I had a particular storage unit in mind, one that would accommodate at least six cubbies to hold files and folders with the potential for a couple smaller shelves. Hubby designed the storage cubby and found plans for a similar desk to the one I liked. The planning or design phase, similar to "plotting." 

The actual creating of the desk took coordination and help from my whole family. Legs and shelves had to be level, measurements precise, and, of course, the appropriate balance between looking nice and being practical. We bought and tested about five different stains until we achieved the right look. 

My new desk

Here it is. My new desk and storage unit. I'm still looking for a couple little baskets and a wall board, so until then, my office is still in the tweaking stage. 

From conception to completion. 
Writing a book requires the same skeletal components:

• Concept or Idea
• Plan (plot or premise)
• Create (write)
• Tweak (edit)

In my current wip, I just wrapped up the creating phase and cranked up the edit process. 

Where are you in your writing phase?

Have you made any changes to your work space to accommodate your writing needs?

Journey's Embrace ~ Releases tomorrow, 3/1, with Pelican Book Group

After an injury forces Deputy U.S. Marshal Sage Michaelson off duty, he heads to his hometown with two things on his mind: recuperating and reevaluating, but Sage can’t refuse his best friend’s plea to keep a protective eye on his little sister after someone ransacks her house. But Delaney’s not so little anymore—and definitely not the young “Dane” Sage remembers. 

Flight Medic Delaney Hunt has loved Sage forever. But, he’s all about control and order while she embraces life and takes risks. As much as the idea appeals to her, she doesn’t need Sage looking over her shoulder. But when things go wrong and she finds herself hanging by her fingertips, who does she call to rescue her?

Will Delaney ever be the woman Sage wants by his side? Can Sage learn to live by grace, recognizing that God is in control? Can they overcome their fears to embrace life together?

Components of a Great Romance

Reading in bed

Immersed in your latest romance, you stayed up hours past your bedtime to make sure the hero and heroine arrived at their happily-ever-after. A sigh erupts from deep in your chest. Your lips curve. You put the book down and turn off the light, satisfied that all is well with your fictional world.

A sigh and a smile. What every romance writer hopes to achieve, right? What is it that makes a love story sigh-worthy? I’ll share my top five necessary components, but I want to hear from you, too.

Strong, genuine characters. Don’t you love heroes and heroines who struggle with decisions and don’t always make the best choices? Men and women who may have messed up in the past but want to make things right? If I’m going to invest my time, give me real-to-life characters with authentic emotions.

Natural romantic tension oozes from the pages. Yes, I believe the bedroom door should stay firmly closed, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy ramped up tension. Something like this:

          Did she want Hunter to kiss her? An ache, a need, started in her sock-covered toes and  zapped all the way to her lips. Yeah. She did. Her free palm cupped his whisker-roughened cheek and slid down to his jawline, ending with a caress around his lips. “But I’m not laughing, now.”

       His eyes darkened, his nostrils flared. His jaw tensed under her hand. “No. I see that. But are you sure this is what you want, Teal? I don’t play games where matters of the heart are concerned. Yours, or mine.”

That little goodie is from When Truth Whispers, my novella releasing with White Rose Publishing on 3/15. For me, romance isn’t about the bedroom. It’s all about the journey.

Appropriate conflict. Do you enjoy books where the hero and heroine constantly argue? Aren’t they supposed to be falling in love? Not to be confused with teasing, a somewhat electrified banter between the hero and heroine, which I adore and where the reader can tell they like each other. Arguing, not so much. Conflict should arise internally from the characters’ dreams, ambitions, insecurities, and beliefs; and externally, what stands in the way of reaching their happily-ever-after.

A message that wraps around your heart. Such as forgiveness, that it’s never too late. Or that with God all things are possible and you can overcome your fears. When you read a story with faith and romance seamlessly woven together, it’s like savoring a cup of hot chocolate, dark and sweet, and dolloped with just the right amount of whipped cream. So rich with flavor, so satisfying, so comforting on a cold winter day.

Closure. Wrap it up. Unless I know up front that it’s a continuation (and I probably won't buy it until the series concludes), don’t leave me hanging on whether the hero and heroine get together or not. Nothing makes me want to fling a book (or my kindle) across the room more than when the hero and heroine aren’t even together at the end. How can that even be considered a romance? 

Now it’s your turn. What elements make a great romance for you? 
Happy Valentine's Day!

Coming 3/15
with Pelican Book Group

After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father?

Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?

This Writer's Thanksgivings by Dora Hiers

On any given day, if you ask my hubby how he’s doing, he will respond, “Life just doesn’t get any better than this.” That doesn’t mean he hasn’t experienced disappointments or struggles, but in his opinion, things could always be worse. Smart man, my hubby. 

Every writer suffers painful circumstances, whether that’s receiving another rejection or a negative review. Groaning and grumbling about our writing disappointments steals our joy and robs us of the abundant life God desires for us. He calls us to 

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to Him and praise his name.” (Ps 100:4 NIV)

So let’s give Him thanks for our writing blessings! Today, I’m thankful for…

My Father, the God of all creation who continually inspires me with ideas and stories. Our God designed the entire universe, not leaving out a single detail, and yet He loves and cares for us. Isn’t that amazing? What an awesome God we serve!

My hubby. My biggest encourager and loudest fan. He's an integral part of my writing journey, from character development to plotting to marketing. He’s so many other things, but this is a writing blog, so I’ll leave it at that. :-)

Carolina Christian Writers and my Seriously Write team members. Dear friends who make the writing road less lonely and who encourage and uplift others with their sweet words.

Pelican Book Group/White Rose Publishing, Nicola Martinez & my gracious editors. Thank you for believing in me and for providing my stories with a publishing home. That’s how you make me feel. At home. You’re such a blessing to me.

Terry Prather, Emily Leachman and Friends of the Kannapolis Library for encouraging me to share my story and for opening library doors across the country.

Bruiser, my Golden Retriever, for providing me with much needed exercise throughout the day. Let him out, let him back in. Repeat fifty times a day. If it weren’t for him, I would be ten pounds heavier.

What about you?

Care to share your thanksgivings today?

Wishing you a joyous, Son-filled Thanksgiving Day, my friends!

This Writer's Thanksgivings by Clare Revell

Isn’t there a song which goes count your blessings name them one by one…

When I was offered a chance to blog about being thankful I immediately said yes. Then thought hang on, life sucks. What do I have to be thankful for? (Not to mention we don’t have Thanksgiving here on the wrong side of the pond.)  Yeah, not a bad few weeks in the grand scheme of things. I mean, no one had died or gone missing or stuff like that, but I’d been ill and incredibly stressed over run of the mill stuff. (Don’t ask.)

But despite that, yes there are things I’m thankful for. (So here are a few things instead which influence my writing in one way or another which I am counting my blessings for. Kind of a photo blog. 

First I’m blessed by having a great church to go to. Carey Baptist Church, in Reading. Actually the first hit you get on google. 

Yes, this is the real Headley Cross Baptist Church. I’ve been going here since 1982. Was baptised here, married here, register weddings here… Based in the heart of the town, it’s a Bible based church. (But no, Pastor James is NOT Pastor Jack from the books. Honestly. I made Pastor Jack up. It’s pure coincidence they both have the same first initial.) But yes, my faith and my church.

And speaking of faith. This was taken in France in 1983. The hill with the three crosses on.

And there’s a hilarious story that goes with it. We passed this hill on the way to and from where we were staying in Le Corbier. Dad wanted to walk there. He said it didn’t look far. It was miles down the mountain and up another. We get to the top and he says “Look there’s a short cut.” Umm we ended up in a dried up river bed, then a field where a farmer was harvesting with a combine…

Finally we get to the road and Mum says “That’s it. You go and get the car.” Hour and a half later, Dad gets back with the car. Even now, 30 years later, when he mentions a short cut we just go “Hill with the three crosses on.”

And that brings me onto family. They are in squinty vision above, but now we’re all married with kids, well one of us has cats and a porche rather than kids (and a career as an ER consultant), but from the 6 of us then, there are now 17, spread across the world. From Reading, to Wales to the far reaches of Australia. On and I have rellies in Canada too. And a best friend in the US, who’s more like a sister than a friend.

Then there’s my editor, Lisa, and wonderful publishers. Pelican Book Group. Who took a chance on an unknown back in 2010 and have put me where I am now. And especially taking a chance on a series I proposed in April last year. A seven novel one based on a new version of an old nursery rhyme.

And the rest as they say is history.

Purchase Link for Tuesday's Child

Clare lives in a small town in England with her husband of 17 years and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, reading, sewing or keeping house or doing the many piles of laundry her children manage to make, she's working part time in the breakfast club at one of the local schools. She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of three registrars. Visit Clare at www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell

My Writer's World by Mary Manners

My View…with Dreams and Wishes

           

At first glance, the view from my work window at school is pretty blah…a faded blacktopped parking lot, complete with potholes and faded lines. But, it serves an important purpose—to house the vehicles of the people who bring a heartbeat to my school—teachers, parents, staff. I am always first to work, and each day as I watch people come and go I wonder and wish for what might lie beyond this unkempt structure. I imagine green pastures splashed with breeze-kissed grass and cool, clear water. I see what can be more than what is.

This morning I was blessed when a local pastor, who is also my neighbor, drove through the early-morning sunrise and pulled into the lot just as I did. He had come to take a prayer walk through the school halls. Because I was also there early, I was fortunate enough to be invited to join him. Together, in the quiet, we strolled by each classroom, pausing long enough to offer up a heartfelt prayer. As my neighbor spoke, I couldn’t help but think about how much I am like the view from my work window—often weary and faded, riddled with dents and dings. Yet, to my Heavenly Father, I am a beautiful, green pasture—breeze-kissed by His hand and filled with the cool, clear water of His word. He sees me for what I can be more than what I am. It’s a lovely blessing, indeed.

Wisdom Tree

After the death of his parents, Jake Samuels has enough on his plate—including a fledgling church to lead and a mischievous younger brother to raise. The last thing he needs is a rambunctious woman to contend with.

Carin O'Malley is dealing with the death of her brother and a new job as an English teacher at East Ridge Middle School where Corey Samuels reigns as King of Chaos. The last thing she needs is to fall in love with a man...especially a handsome and complicated preacher like Corey’s brother Jake.

But when Corey's antics toss Carin and Jake together, the two must draw from God’s wisdom to find refuge in His perfect plan for them.

Mary Manners is an award-winning author of inspirational romance who lives in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband and teen-aged daughter. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers.

During the school year, she teaches middle-schoolers reading and Algebra. In her free time, she likes to garden, take long walks with her husband, and read romance novels in a hammock beneath century-old shade trees. Visit Mary at  www.marymannersromance.com