When You Marry a Novelist By Patty Froese

My husband thought he knew what he was getting into when he married a writer. He knew I wrote. He loved that I'd been published, but I don't think he had a perfect grasp on what that would mean on a daily basis. I think he thought it would be... prettier. More quill pens and less hammering out a chapter outline before having had a shower.

He thought that I'd happily work another job, and write in the time that was free after working a day job, after spending time with him and before getting a decent night's sleep. What he didn't count on was how much I hated my day jobs, and how much I needed to write, even more than I needed sleep.

He thought that once I got my first book published, it would be an easy life of cashing royalty checks. Nine books later, I still giggle a bit at that one!

He thought I wrote about things entirely fictitious... but when you live with a writer, you run the risk of being included in her work, even subconsciously!

He thought writing was my hobby. He was wrong. Very, very wrong.

Getting the balance can be a bit of a ride for any relationship, but once we did, my husband started to appreciate the benefits of having a full time writer wife. (Yes, I quit the hated day jobs.)

1. I'm here all day, so when he gets home, a meal is on the table and I'm thrilled to see him. (Writing all day doesn't provide a lot of social contact.)

2. When people ask him what his wife does, he gets to brag a little. "No, really. She's a novelist."

3. I'm at home, so I can take care of our son and do all those mom-things that make for a sweet childhood. (Granted, my son will also have plenty of memories of me saying, "Mommy has to write, sweetheart. Go play now.")

4. Whenever he needs to write out something for work, he has an excellent editor on hand to smooth it all out and give it a little pizzazz.

5. I'm happy. Deeply happy. And I know that I'm able to stay home and write full time because he supports me--that gratitude can only mean good things for him!

A great relationship is when both people get to pursue their dreams, and we have that kind of marriage. I'm lucky!

Marriage isn't always rose petals, and sometimes it takes a good amount of work. My newest novel, Legally Wed, is about two marriages--one that was supposed to be perfect, and one that was supposed to be over. Neither marriage ends up being what the partners expect!

But that's life. Marriage is generally a surprise, no matter how prepared you think you are!

When Rich McConaughey comes back to town, divorce papers in hand, he's in for more than he bargained for. Lisa Young, the woman he was married to for six months, hasn't changed a bit. His mother has though... she's gone from matronly to meow, and his father has taken off with the secretary. Does anything last anymore? 

Lisa Young feels chained to the hardware store her family has run for generations. How can she tell her father that she hates the family business? When Rich walks back into her store asking her to finalize a divorce she thought was behind her, she thinks that the answer is to sign on the dotted line and move on. Except, Rich isn't making it so easy... and God has other plans.

For better or for worse, when you're legally wed, things can get complicated.  Buy link

Meet Patty Froese 

I am an inspirational fiction writer with a husband, a child, a quirky sense of humor and a passion for what I do. Give me a pot of tea and some peace and quiet, and I can give you a novel. I’ll also give you blog posts, hilarious internet jokes, pictures of my ridiculously intelligent rabbit and other random things that keep me busy.

You can join the chaos and fun of novel writing by following my daily posts. Come, comment, let me know you’re there. Who said writing has to be solitary?

http://pattyfroese.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pattyfroese
http://www.goodreads.com/pattyfroese

Ask O: Reaction Before Action Part Two

Happy Wednesday my writing friends!

Today we continue our discussion about reaction before action or effect before cause. It can be tricky, so to sharpen our skills, I created a paragraph filled with the little devils. Can you find them?

Wow! Excitement rippled through me when my husband announced that he didn’t have to work.
“Really? Not Job One?”
He laughed and shook his head.
“Not Job Two?”“Nope!”
“Job Three?”
“Yay! Papa doesn’t have to work!” My littlest scampered into the bedroom and jumped on our bed where we were talking. The other kidlets joined us and we hugged and giggled about planning our family adventure for dad’s day off.

Think you found them all? Let’s see if we can clean this up.

Problem #1: Excitement rippled BEFORE my husband’s announcement--classic emotional response coming before action.

Better: “Honey, sit down. You may not believe this. I don’t have to work today.”

Excitement rippled through me. Could it be true?

Problem #2: “He laughed and shook his head.” Perhaps a little more subtle, but you still must ask, why is he laughing? His chuckle comes because his answer to my question is no (which he shows by shaking his head.)

Better: He shook his head then laughed.

Problem #3: “Yay! Papa doesn’t have to work!” Ugh! This kind irks me the most. The child talks before we know a child's in the room. Technically, this one exemplifies effect coming before cause. The effect is the child talking, the cause is the child.

Better: Christian bounded into the room with an impressive Army kick and roll.

My husband grinned at Christian, but spoke to me.“I’m telling you. I don’t have to work at all today, not at any of my jobs."

“Yay! Papa doesn’t’ have to work!”

Problem #4: “…and jumped on the bed where we were talking.” We don't know where this scene takes place until the very last sentence. Thing is, if we don’t create a story world, readers will create their own. Then when we finally show them where we imagine the scene, we jolt readers out of the story and make them re-adjust. We don’t want them to work that hard.

Better: Provide a short beat of story world before the scene even begins: With a stretch and a yawn, I lug my tired self from bed. Before my eyes fully focus, my husband swaggers in, all smiles.

Problem #5: “The other kidlets joined us, and we hugged and giggled about planning our family adventure for dad’s day off.”

Better: You tell me! Leave your answer in the comments with a corrected sentence and I’ll even put you in a drawing to win one of my books!

Happy writing and God bless!

Ocieanna

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