Inspiration!

People always ask me how I think up my stories. My sister Carmen (who I dedicated The Boyfriend of the Month Club to) finished reading it yesterday and proclaimed it a masterpiece. Okay, maybe not a masterpiece exactly, but she loved it. Said she laughed a lot and found it very romantic and satisfying. I was thrilled to hear it, because she's the type of person who always says what she means. Being her sister is not a free pass to a good review.

So back to my topic. In the course of the conversation she asked me how I came up with different plot twists, character actions, etc, etc...
I really didn't have a good answer for her except to say that "The story always seems to write itself." Which sounds like a bunch of boohooey, except that it's true.

Lately, I've been very interested in the creative process and how things come about. After some analysis of what works for me and what doesn't, I've come to the conclusion that I've heard many writers say and that's that the story is already inside you. It's just waiting to come out and if you let your creative juices flow, then it will happen. In the famous words of the Beatles, "Let it Be."

And when you let it be, it seems, inspiration comes from the heavens and gently taps you on the shoulder. The film Bull Durham inspired a great deal of my first book Bunco Babes Tell All. Memories of my childhood and growing up in Florida, inspired the backdrop of The Boyfriend of the Month Club.

And while I was taking a break yesterday from writing, I opened up some Yeats to read (poetry is the most awesome inspiration) and was suddenly given an important clue to one of my character's motivation. So there you go. And off I went. I love it when this happens!

Where do you find your inspiration?

My crick in the neck

I woke up this morning with a massive spasm in my neck. Did I sleep wrong? Probably, although I suspect it has more to do with the hours I spent at my computer yesterday (am really making headway on the new novel!)

As we speak, I can only move my head to the right. Well, okay, I can move it to the left some too, but only because Mike Geraci has spent the last ten minutes using his superb super massage/rolfing techniques on me.

Yesterday, I gave away an ARC for my upcoming book, BOTMC. The winner was announced in my edited post on Girlfriends Book Club. Congrats to Sarah!

Plans for the day: keep writing on the new novel. Go mail my Fresh Fiction contest winner her goodies (a signed copy of Bunco Babes Gone Wild and a gift card to Borders), run to Publix to buy some more Motrin (best drug in the world) and make a quiche. I'm not a huge quiche fan, but I've decided I'm going to make a really moist and delicious one today. Oh, and finish watching Letters to Juliet. I started watching it last night and fell asleep. Not because it was bad or anything, but because I was tired. It started out very cute and I really really want to like this movie, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Real Life versus my closet life

My closet life for those of you who aren't aware, is the the metaphor I've given to that part of my life that involves my writing. In other words, the made up part of my life. The one where the people don't really exist. Lately, I haven't been spending too much time there.

Part of the reason is because, to tell you the truth, I'm simply worn out. Writing my last book took a huge toll on me. A few days ago over at Girlfriends Book Club we discussed how long it takes to write a book. The consensus was somewhere between a few months but less than nine years (heh).

I've written a book in six months and it's a struggle. Not because I can't finish a book in that time. But because I really need time between my drafts to let my words marinate. Someone asked me once what I thought of finally reading my book in print. The answer was, "I don't read my books in print." Once I send off the last draft I never read the book again. I simply can't. If I can't edit it, then I can't read it. Because I'll always find something that can be improved. I think a lot of writers feel the same way.

So... last night (after I got back from Bunco!) I sat down to open up my latest manuscript (tentatively titled Girlfriends are Forever) in which I've been struggling heartily because I haven't found the right opening. Well, I'm happy to say that I think I found the right beginning. Which means, it's back to my closet life and I think I'm happy about that.

Clean, Proof, Bake

Sorry to be such a bad blogger. It's been a crazy week filled with spotty Internet connection, work (yes, I still do that) and trying to do the final proofs on The Boyfriend of the Month Club. Thought I was through with that book, huh? I'm finishing the final final final pass in which I frantically search out any typos, missed words, etc., and point those out to my publisher. However, if come December you find some small gaffe, please don't email me and tell me there's a misspelled word in my book. Believe me, it won't be for lack of my trying my darnedest to not have that happen. Mistakes in publishing happen all the time. No matter how many eyes go over a manuscript. And right now my eyes are begging for a reprieve. But enough of that.

In between proofing my manuscript and cleaning house today, I plan to bake cookies. The famous Neiman Marcus ones, because... well, they'll make the house smell good. Plus, you never know when I might have a cookie emergency and it's best to be prepared.




Oh, and don't forget to leave a comment in the give away post for All I Ever Wanted. I promise you, it's a fantastic read!