Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

The new issue of RWR has an article titled Reality Check by Diane Pershing. It is, well, rather depressing. I’m not saying I disagree with any of it–I don’t. It is just that sometimes seeing what you already know in black and white, can be a bit of a downer.

The big kicker for me was that, according to an unofficial survey by Suzanne Brockmann in 2000, only around eight percent of published romance authors made enough money to consider it a full time job. Eeek!

Now, here’s my question–why is that? I think a lot of writers don’t really want a full time career writing. They like being more casual about it–not having to constantly have something out there, constantly having to evolve. And I think to make it in this business full-time, you do have to do those things. Sure it’s possible you will be one of the few who hits on her perfect subgenre right when that market is taking off and have sale after sale without having to rethink anything–but more likely you won’t. More likely you will have to be willing to change. You will have to keep your ears and eyes open, thinking about what is the best move for you. You may have to make some tough decisions–like firing your agent, or turning down a contract. You may have to write twenty proposals, none of them making it. And you may go years without a sale. It’s ugly, but it’s true.

The question is, is it worth it to you? Is your goal to do this full time or is writing as a hobby enough? What would you be willing to do to keep your career going? Where would you draw the line?

Lori

My blog is up at RTB. I talked about contests for published authors. After a lot of back and forth (at this moment) I think I have decided against them. I really think they mainly are just an ego thing. Instead I’m thinking of doing a promotion targeted at reader groups, where for every contest I would have entered I pick a reader group to send say six free copies of my book. Whatcha think?

Lori

I will probably still enter the RITA. I do think it has some lasting value.

Sure you do–check out this list of facts about kids starting college this year. (from Beloit College) Once you are on the page scroll down for the actual list.

Lori

Okay, I have two more shows I’m really enjoying–Growing Up Gotti and Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive. Anyone watching them? Filthy Rich is a lot like a romance novel set up–you know rich kids thrown into not rich scenario–pulling calves, etc. It is a tad disturbing though that most of these kids really don’t get it. Life I mean. They actually stood in the middle of the Colorado mountains and said they didn’t like the scenery. Who says that? And they are all walking around talking on their cell phones. It is flat out weird. My grandfather was a beef farmer and I lived in Montana for a number of years, so I am no stranger to cows. But I still think doing a cattle drive would be great. Sure hard work, but doing it just once for the experience, in a beautiful place? This people are really missing the point. It is reassuring though that some of them are beginning to change/grow–just like in a good novel. :)

Lori–your reality TV connection

Probably been around, but here you go…the Sex and the City Quiz. Which gal pal are you?

Lori/Miranda

To VH1 reality TV.

I know. That is embarrassing, isn’t it? But don’t knock it till you try it.

It started innocently enough with Kept the story of Jerry Hall looking for a young American man to be her “kept” man. I mean, who could resist that? Then there was Strip Search–the search for male strippers to star in a Las Vegas version of The Thunder Down Under. Great for research. But now it’s gone past that. I’ve discovered: Tommy Lee (goes to college), Gene Simmon’s rock school (Gene goes to a private school in Britain where he teaches a class on being a rock star), and Celebrity Fit Club (hey, it’s inspirational). I have even glanced at Hogan Knows Best and The Surreal Life (okay, this last one is pushing it even for a reality TV junkee like me.

So, am I the only one? You know admitting your problem is the first step. But really, how else can we make it until the fall when the real schedule begins. Yeah, I’m already planning: American Idol, Survivor, America’s Next Top Model, and oh, so many more…Forget raking leaves! This is the best part of fall. :)

Gotta go–there’s something new on TV

Lori

Nothing like a little Barney serenade to start your day, is there? Seemed appropriate though. I’m feeling very in control for some demented reason. :)

So, I’m trying the pre-writing thing from Karen Wiesner’s presentation. I think it may work for me. My deal has always been that I have to think a bit ahead before I can write the next scene. Usually some epiphany hits me right before I go to sleep or in the shower or on the eliptical trainer, etc. But today, I just sat down and started writing. I opened a new file titled “name of WIP OUTLINE” and set up a few styles. I did it so both the chapter/scene number and a short (one sentence) descriptor of the scene will appear in the master document window. This should make it easy to flip back and forth between scenes. I’m going to try Karen’s alternative suggestion and pre-write just a chapter or two ahead of where I am in the actual draft. So far, so good. :)

In other news, have you checked out the auction for Marianne Mancusi? It is in full swing at ebay–go here. Looks like a number of editors and agents have again stepped up with manuscript critiques. I think that is pretty cool of them. They did it for the Diabetes auction too. A lot of authors have too. Personally, I wouldn’t do it just because of the embarassment factor when my critique got a sum total of $3.52 in bids. My ego is plenty in check as it is, thank you very much. :) Anyway, check it out–you might see something you need, and you will be helping someone else–always a good thing.

Lori

I woke up yesterday and realized summer was almost over. School starts back here in a little over two weeks! I am determined to be less stressed this year. To that end, I have worked out a schedule to make sure we aren’t all running around at bedtime every night realizing we haven’t finished something we had to do that day. Also, took my daughter clothing shopping yesterday. Today is school supplies. :)

On writing, yesterday at my local RWA meeting Karen Wiesner, author of First Draft in 30 Days spoke. Like I told Karen, I really wasn’t buying this idea until I heard her explain it. I am not a big fill-out-the-forms kind of writer, but I do write a synopsis first. This is a recent development for me, but it really helps me with the process. Kind of gives me a map of where I am going.

Anyway, Karen’s “first draft” is a lot like a really long/scene-by-scene synopsis. I’m not sure I will use her method in its entirety, but I
definitely got some good ideas from her talk. The first was a scene form. I don’t know why this never occured to me before, but why not write out a little description of major scenes, floor plans, whatever and keep them for reference? I just describe the scene as my characters enter them. Sometimes I know in advance what the scene looks like, but this would really simplify things for me.

The other thing was using idea folders. I have this type of thing set up on my computer, and have a notebook I keep notes in, but this is to simply buy a two-pocket folder for each idea and stuff notes, etc. in it as time goes by. When you have enough “cooked” to start the “first draft” you do.

I’m still not convinced writing the “first draft”/scene-by-scene synopsis would save me time. How about you guys? I know some of you have read the book? Have you tried it? Is the technique working for you?

Lori

At least I think that’s it. I think I’m home for awhile. This has been WAY too busy of a summer!

This is where I’ve been this last few days. Since I have small children, I didn’t do any of the wild rides, but I still had a great time lounging around.

In writing news, I finished two synopses that I have sent to my agent. I like the second one better–hopefully she will agree. My husband loves it, which is probably a bad sign. Anyway, I’m trying something slightly new lately–various forms of chick lit. I think it is a good fit for me. I like reading chick lit and I like writing in the first person. (not that everything will be in the first person.) I have one proposal for a hen lit finished and the two synopses I have done are paranormal chick lit. They are a lot of fun. I just hope other people think so too. ;-)

In the blogging world, just want to say how sorry I am for what Paperback Writer is going through. Enough said.

Once I settle back down, I may revisit what I learned at the RWA Conference (Not touching the awards ceremony mess, except to say I was not offended by it and am still not offended by it.) or I may give an overview of A First Draft in 30 Days. Karen Weisner is speaking on it at my local RWA meeting this Saturday.

Oh, I almost forgot. My friend, Chris Merrill won the Golden Heart–had I mentioned that yet? She’s the one they forgot to announce when they were reading the finalists. Ha! Showed them–she won the darn thing. (big grin) Here’s a picture.

The way the world should be!           Confronting the last bastion of power.