Writers Block & the never ending flow of ideas

   

     As I write this, all I can think about is the fact, this is the first thing I've written in months. Ideas have been abundant. I've got them scrawled on bits and pieces of paper, jotted down in files in my computer and bouncing around my brain like a loose bag of high-bounce rubber balls. But to actually sit and have the creative juices flow into legible paragraphs that someone would want to read, that has eluded me.
     Ideas are abundant thanks to my recent trip cross country with a few of my Sizzling Scribe Sisters.
We laughed, chatted and discussed books, interests, the state of the publishing industry and more books along with possible future story lines. We spent hours laughing, which was something I desperately needed.
     I think my problem (this writer's block) is caused by thinking too much on the current state of the publishing industry.
     There's a flood of books on the market leading to too much supply overwhelming the demand of the readers. How do I stand out in this market? It's difficult. So many freebies and .99 specials that readers don't buy books when they can get them for free. Yet, they complain about the lack of quality in what they've downloaded. It's the old adage, you get what you pay for.
     In the last few months alone, several good small presses have closed their doors because of the damage this has caused in the publishing industry. Not everyone out there has the professional attitude to become an author. Sure you've written a story, but that doesn't mean it's publishable material. There are steps that must be followed before that upload button should be pushed. First drafts should never be published and if you don't know what that is, then you're not an author ready for being published. Please take the time to learn the craft before you hit send.
     It is my hope that the industry will make a turn around in favor of publishing houses once again. Until then, I'm hopeful that my brain will engage and my fingers will meet the keyboard to create at least one of the ideas looming in the dark recesses of my mind.

Is there a rainbow at the end of my writer's block syndrome? I truly hope so.

I was invited to participate in this wonderful collection of stories. 

I'm forever grateful for this opportunity. 

Available @

http://amzn.to/1WdUI1o

My contribution to this collection is titled:

Breath of Luck

When the two most notorious ghosts of the Excelsior take a liking to you, 

it only takes a breath of luck and a roll of the dice to win at the game of love.

Car Rides, Vacations, Dreams - Book Ideas Spring from Just About Anywhere!

I love spring. The temperatures warm up and things start to come to life again. This month's topic couldn't be more appropriate, because when ideas spring forward, new books are born.

For me, story ideas spring up from just about everywhere or anywhere. One day I was listening to the lyrics of the Carrie Underwood song, "American Girl." My mind took the image of a football player falling hard for a cheerleader and then wrapped around the birth of their baby girl. That was where the idea for Jesse, Nikki and Kathy from "Every Grain of Sand" sprung from.

My "Summers at the Shore" series was pretty much "written" in my head during a three-hour drive home from a day at the beach on the Jersey Shore. It began with the idea of telling a story as someone was traveling, then having the next book follow the pattern from the other main character's point of view...all still leading up to the present day. By the time I came home, I had names and locations and basic characters. I started writing all my ideas that night.

I have also been inspired by places. For "Strong Armed", I knew I wanted to write a story based in the Upper West Side of Manhattan and wanted a heroine who believed the Big Apple to be the center of the universe. I initially wanted a bit of a spoiled, rich girl, but then wanted to give her depth and secrets and experiences that no one would ever dream of; and Ella was born.

Another spot that screamed out as the setting for a story is Savannah. I stopped there on vacation last summer and while driving around and looking at mansions, I knew I needed a story set inside one of those grand old homes. By the time I went to bed that night, I had an outline and hope to release the stand-alone book as part of a trilogy later this year.

Speaking of bed, I'd be lying if I didn't say some stories have come from dreams. I am currently working on a new series, "The Chosen," which is inspired by a dream. I woke up with the question "suppose you fell in love with a great guy and learned he was the biological son of Satan?" I have had a great time creating a whole new set of rules that combines the laws of nature with the unexplained happenings of the supernatural. Right now "The Chosen" is slated to publish around Memorial Day as a three-book series, all available simultaneously.

Dreams are also a great way for me to overcome writer's block. When I don't know where a story is headed next, I re-read parts of it and go to sleep with the characters on my mind. A good percentage of the time, I wake up knowing where they are headed next.

So, where do your ideas spring from?

Book Ideas are Springing Up All Over

If you read Heather’s post last week, you know that Mother Nature’s been taking her own sweet time moving spring into the Warwick Valley.

While the snow melted fairly quickly, the temperatures aren’t moving in the right direction. We’re all hoping spring will make an appearance before too much longer. Thank goodness I don’t have to wait on Mother Nature for my book ideas!

The truth is I get ideas for stories everywhere—books, movies, song lyrics, television shows, people watching, dreams. It’s amazing how one tiny thought can spark the idea for an entire book or series.

My problem isn’t getting ideas. My problem is deciding which ones to turn into books, and once I’ve decided, sticking with the project until the end. I tend to suffer from shiny object syndrome. I’ll start working on one project and then…squirrel!!

Some other couple is begging me to drop everything and tell their story. It’s hard telling them no, but I’ve learned from experience that if I start a new story every time a fresh idea springs to mind, I’d never finish anything.

The good news for my readers is that this means I’ll have plenty of books in the works for years to come!

And speaking of good news…if you haven’t had a chance to grab Christmas with the Billionaire, the first book in my Holiday Encounters series, you’re in luck! It'll be free on Amazon from April 12-16. 

Find it here: Christmas with the Billionaire

Happy Reading!
Amy Lamont

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April at WVRA = Where do our ideas Spring from? #Romance

A question that writers hear a lot is, "Where do all your ideas come from?"

Like each writer asked, the answer will be completely unique.

***

Spring has sprung, yet Mother Nature is still pulling an April Fool's Day prank.

It's snowing in New York.

Thinking back on my childhood, I was very lucky.

I didn't listen to just one kind of music, I listened to many.

I didn't watch one type of TV show or movie, I watched everything I could.

And, I didn't read only one genre of book. I read them all.

Being exposed to so many wonderful songs and stories I think helped my imagination soar.

At times it soars too much. My imagination runs pretty much 24/7/365.

But, for storytelling, it's awesome. I can hear the lyrics from a song, see a photograph, or read a magazine article, and make up stories.

In my head, I've re-written movie endings and book story lines, if I thought I could do it better.

The entire fictional town and family of Maguire's Corner was created after I saw a road sign on my way home.

And, since inspiration can spring from just about anywhere at anytime, I carry a notebook and pen with me everywhere I go.

Where do your ideas Spring from?

Heather M. Gardner
The Waiting is the Hardest Part 
Heather Writes Romance 

I'm a Morning Writer, sort of... by Tracey Lyons

I'm a morning writer, sort of. I must confess when I see the morning sunlight streaming in through my bedroom window my first thought isn't "Hey, let's rise and shine!" Oh, no. I pull the blankets over my head and roll over.

Maybe I should call myself a before noon writer. I do have some must-haves to keep me motivated during my writing time. I have a home office. This is my third relocation, but by far my favorite spot. Situated right outside my bedroom door, I only have to tumble out of bed and I'm at my desk in seconds.

Then I have my wall of book covers. These remind me of my successes.

There are two of my favorite photos that inspire me. The one from my first Romantic Times book signing in 2000. Here I'm with the fabulously talented Thea Devine. A new fan. And long time author friend and signing buddy Sharon Schulze.

And the photo that always makes me smile. The one from the Chatham Book Store signing where my book is featured right next to  Bill Clinton's.

Lastly, I have a beautiful lead crystal, cut-glass paper weight that my Aunt Jean gave to me before she died, right before the release of my third novel. This reminds me that life is short and of how lucky I am to have been blessed with the talent to create.

Provide Me With Ink and Paper and I Will Write

The title quote is stolen from Edmund Campion, but it is so true for me. When I sit down to write, I must have two things: a pen and a notebook. Each and every story that I have ever written was born through ink and paper, and needless to say, I have a very large stack of notebooks.

"Don't Be 'a Writer.' Be Writing" - William Faulkner

 Although I do have a home office, I don’t have a specific spot where I write. Whether it’s at my desk, on the sofa with a TV show in the background, or in bed when everyone else is asleep, I write wherever and whenever I can; which is the reason for notebooks.

A spiral notebook is portable and one has accompanied me everywhere from long vacations to day trips to the beach. I’ve brought them on cruises, airplanes, even to Disney World, because I never know when my characters will talk to me.

Start From the Very Beginning: Chapter One

Aside from pen and book, I do have a few other “must haves” to bring my stories to life. Every story that I’ve ever written has started with “Chapter One” on the first page. There have been times that I’ve changed it to “Prologue” during the course of development, and I’ve even backtracked and written a new “Chapter One” deciding that the story actually began earlier; but they all start out the same way.

"The Difference Between Something Good and Something Great is Attention to Detail" - Charles R. Swindoll

I write out a complete biography for all main characters that includes a physical description, birthday, education, job history, you name it. I’ve also drawn up family trees, when necessary (I never would have been able to keep up with the Sullivan clan in “Every Grain of Sand” without a family tree!). This habit dates way back to my teen years when I was reading a novel (can’t remember the name of it), but the author described a character’s “dreamy chocolate brown eyes”, when in the beginning of the book he had “bright blue eyes” that reminded her of the morning sky. Yeah, cheesy, I know. But that always stuck with me and I couldn’t believe the author didn’t remember the color of her main character’s eyes (or that editors didn’t catch that – and it was in the days before - long before - self-publishing!)

“Being a Reporter is As Much a Diagnosis as a Job Description” - Anna Quindlan

Another key ingredient for every story is research. If my characters are walking down the street in Paris, I want to know what they see, what they feel, what the weather is for that time of year. Whenever possible, I travel to the setting to really become one with the atmosphere; but sometimes that isn’t in the cards and I rely on the Internet. I’ve used it to research medical conditions (including the questionable medical procedures in The Strong Armed series). Perhaps it’s my background as a professional reporter, but I like to have the facts and not rely on poetic license. But, sometimes poetic license is needed to take the story in a whole new direction. And with my newest series, The Chosen, to be released this spring, I’ve had to let it go and accept that when writing in a supernatural genre, anything goes.

“To Get The True Value of Joy You Must Have Someone to Divide It With” - Mark Twain

The most recent addition to my list of “must haves” is a Swarovski crystal pen that my husband gave me as a gift two Christmases ago. It means a lot because, to me, it shows he values my work as a writer. Writers spend do much time writing, at the expense of a lot, and when those around you view it as more than a hobby, it’s important.

Of course, I’m not completely old school. The longhand version of my stories are my first drafts and a lot gets eliminated from paper to laptop. But I hold onto the ink-covered pages and always will, because they represent my original inspiration.

Writing in a nutshell

     Every author is different. Some have the opportunity to write everyday. Others-like me- write as often as we can, be it every other day or once or twice a week. That pesky day job complete with double shifts tends to sap my energy. But that doesn't mean my mind stops listening to the story rolling through my head. Keeping small notepads with me, stuffed in my pocketbook, laptop satchel, on the bedside table and even in the door of my car, has saved me from forgetting a pivotal scene I wanted to place in a book. Might not be the book I'm working on, it sometimes is an inspiration for another novel.
     To keep my writing on track, I've started using a story board. For years, I've kept competer files on each book that contain vital information such as correct spelling of character names, eye color, hair etc. and I open them as I work on the story. But now, I also have a ritual where I jot stuff on a story board. Please excuse the mess, I'm a bit disorganized at the moment and my desk looks disheveled but this is where I like to work.

     I do have one ritual that helps me stay focused. I like to block out all noise, especially since I have four dogs, who tend to bark at everything from the wind to a leaf. Some authors enjoy music while writing. I started incorporating song lyrics in my novels when I tried that as a focusing tool. Since I like country, my Scottish Lairds were speaking with a Southern drawl and that wasn't appropriate. LOL.  This is my older dog, Jaeger modeling the headphones. They don't fit right on him but at least he held still.

Here is a picture of why I need noise reducing headphones to get anything accomplished. 

Notice, not one of them looked when I called their names and Simon turned completely away so you can only imagine how noisy they can be when I'm ignoring them and trying to work.

Thanks for letting me share with you.

Here is my latest release coming out March 30th. It's up for pre-order until then.

My title in this wonderful anthology about Voluptuous Female Characters is Cash's Cherry.

http://amzn.to/1TIrY0V

   Cash’s Cherry~Tara Nina

When Cherry Adams disappears while taking an EMT call, it’s up to Cash Dupree and his search-and-rescue dog, Max, to find her, bring her home safe and show her how much she means to him. She makes him hot, hard and wanting more. He made a mistake before, running scared from the overwhelming feelings he felt for her. He’s not going to make the same mistake twice.

First, however, he has to find her.