But wait, HERE IS THE NEWS

Some of the news I wanted to share with you is not so earth shattering, though for me it is sensational news. All my family who have been staying here to recoup finances etc have moved out. Several times a week our household bulged with up to seven extra people (though usually it was only five) with the lounge/dining area transformed to resemble multi-bedroomed sleeping quarters. While it is always lovely to have family here and I enjoy them heaps, the addition of three little ones under four meant all our time went to just running this household.
So, now I am home alone while DH is at work and I can hear the bubbles popping in the fish tank!!!
You have no idea how excited I am.
But wait, there's more.
We found out while on holidays that we will be grandparents (our first natural grandchild) in the new year. Everyone is in 'excited hyped up mode' about this little new addition to our family. It was totally unexpected news for us as the couple is still studying but unbeknown to us they had been trying for some time. They are a truly amazing couple and will make fantastic parents and, of course, they will have some of the best grandies on the planet!! Two lots actually!!
Well that's all for today. Stay tuned for more holiday pix...
Regards Annie

Holiday Pix

Click on pic for larger size of shots of the 1st day.
Geelong and Port Phillip Bay.

Home from holidays

Hello to all my cyber friends.
Sorry if you've been checking here an found nothing, because I haven't written in ages. I've been away with DH on holidays. We had a lovely 10 days traveling by plane 1200 kms to drive over 1700 kms from Melbourne in Victoria to Adelaide in South Australia. Of course, it isn't that far between the two state capital cities. But using the coastal roads where we could, there have been many a photographic opportunity to take advantage of and add the ks on the dial. Unfortunately I lost my voice somewhere in Victoria and haven't found it since. This is DISASTER for someone who loves to speak as much as I do!!
If I can, I'll upload some pix over the next week or so. I also have some fantastic personal news coming soon so - Stay Tuned!!
Regards Annie

Love conquers all

Everyone who as ever been in love or dreams of being in love can tell their own version of how it should be or how it came to happen that they fell in love with the person they are with. And don't we all love to hear a good love story?
I am so glad falling in love is not a straight forward process. It is as varied for each couple as we are individually unique. Without the diversity of situation, circumstances and the individuality of participating characters, romance writers would have nothing to bring their readers. And the more complex the better. It is that thrill of discovery that lures a reader to find out the answer to that all important question. How will this seemingly impossible situation resolve itself? I love to read about them, as much as anyone, to find out what happens of course.
Do you have an amazing story of love reunited, or everlasting love or love lost?
I'd enjoy hearing about them. Regards Annie

Dreaming write

Some concepts made on other blogs and their comments have inspired my new train of thought. Dreams. As writers we could use more time in our week and someone suggested we lose sleep. I could NEVER do that. Not a happy chappy without my sleep!! LOL
I had a lovely romance story dream last night (while sleeping blissfully - it does happen occasionally) and then I tossed and turned trying to write the thing in my head. I have had a few of these but have never taken the time to write them down straight away to see where such a plot or thought would take me.
I have often imagined some of the other genres inspiration may well come from dreams, having marveled at their inventiveness - especially in 'other world' type scenes depicted.
I am wondering if anyone else has used an actual dream scene to include in their novels. And if so, did they turn out successfully and inspire other plot paths to enhance the overall story? Or not work at all?
Annie

Networking

Networking is another facet to the writing of romance that enhances our ability to get our name out there. Blogging is one way. I love the comments (as, I'm sure, we all do) from you all who take the time to leave one. It also helps me know whether to keep writing here or not. So keep at it one and all - even if it's just to say hello.
Networking either face-to-face or online can provide us with answers to our professional questions and build those professional relationships we all need in this business.
I have been busy this week setting up some social networking pages and we all know how much time can be wasted there!! LOL But in the process I have learned a little (the tip of the iceberg really) about some basic webpage editing. Also found another photo site I like which includes an editor so I can fuss over my pix a bit more. WOW, there goes another major chunk of time.
Anway, I would encourage you to take a look at myspace.com/annie_doyle. Please add me as a friend as I would love to see you there.
Regards
Annie

To cling or not to cling

Mentoring and receiving instruction
“If you be a lover of instruction, you will be well instructed.” Isocrates
While I was on my morning walk the other day I saw a vine clinging to a tree. It reminded me of mentoring. Weird I know, but then, that’s how my crazy mind works sometimes. Most times. The vine starts out crawling along the ground, it makes its way to the tree, then clings while it grows ever upwards.
Mentoring is partnering with someone more knowledgeable for the purpose of instruction. The corporate world has grasped this concept in a big way, and it's successful among youth programs. Have you ever thought about a mentor in the ‘trade’ of romance writing?
How would I do that? While the question seems a big one, may I add some of my own thoughts on this topic? While you may not need a mentor in the true sense of the word, there is a wealth of information out there already available for newbies to glean from.
Firstly, read widely and generally. Find the niche within the market you feel most comfortable with, (that is, if you haven’t already decided). The one you enjoy reading will prove to be the most obvious place to start. For example – It’s no good trying to write a paranormal if you don’t enjoy reading paranormals, even if the market is huge.
Secondly, find a few writers whose work you love and examine their content, voice and technique. Check out if they have a web presence and learn all you can from them.
Next - join groups, associations and forums with the aim of seeking out those more knowledgeable on topics of interest to you. Historical writers could do worse than forming a professional relationship with a history buff. And, while you’re involved in those group/forum situations don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make a list if necessary, to be prepared. Most people are happy to share their insight of what they’re passionate about. You may find someone who will help you more than you could ever imagine.
Even by entering competitions with feedback, you are submitting your work to others who’ve walked further up the road to publication than you. This feedback can be a valuable source of instruction.
Like the vine, use the strength of the other for your upward growth.
“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz
Any othe ideas I haven't thought of?
Regards Annie

What is Romantic?

Tell me your thoughts about a romantic setting?
It's funny how we all have a different opinion, even about what constitutes a romantic setting. Last night there was a beautiful full moon with clear sky and stars. Lovely. I called my family out to see it and the response was varied. One howled like a wolf!! And so did his fiance (they are the perfect match aren't they? LOL) My husband wished he was on the beach fishing. The children were just in awe and looking for the cow that jumped over it. I thought it was romantic.
My family lives in a gorgeous sub-tropical paradise on the coast of Australia and although we love where we live, appreciate it's natural beauty and get out in it as much as possible, to us it's still just home. Many come for honeymoons, weddings and romantic get-aways while everyday life goes on around us. However, I never take it for granted and even though I have traveled quite a lot, there's no place like my home.
Valerie Parv wrote about romantic settings in her book The Art of Romance Writing. She says "many writers are surprised to find the setting is not the most important element" when writing a romance. She says many of her powerful settings are just everyday places. While setting is important, it is the relationship between the hero and the heroine that keeps us glued to the page.
What's you idea of a romantic setting and have you used your special place in a manuscript yet?
Regards Annie

Collage helps my creative process

As promised here is my collage of ideas which feeds my creative process regarding story construction.
I love Powerpoint. Starting with a blank page, I can add big or small pix, text or whatever. For my writing collages it's mainly for pix, though.
I'm attaching some jpg files of the Powerpoint slides I have used for my previous story. I usually keep one page or more for each topic. EG the first one is for heroine's setting: (Click on images to see larger versions.)

I just look for pix online that feature aspects I'm thinking I might use. (Add to page via copy and paste) In this story the heroine owns a B&B and is where she meets up again with school friend hero. Quite a lot of interaction and different scenes happen here and in the garden.
Another slide is setting pix for the rockclimbing and abseiling aspects of the story.

Here the main characters H/h have a slide but other settings like the country pub are here too. If I can't find a pic that's exactly as I visualize, I just insert a couple of different ones for an eclectic mix!!
The pix can be edited easily and shuffled on the slide to format or resize or cut and pasted to another page as required.

This slide was for careers, cars and children.
The best thing about a Powerpoint file is it can be as big or small as needed because if more inspiration is needed then an entire slide can be inserted, cut or the order rearranged by dragging and dropping.
I found these slides most useful for getting the feel for the settings. Pix mostly came from real estate ads, these helped big time. AND the entire display is always only a click away, filed with my WIP.

As usual photo files can be quite large, though usually online they are already resized. In order for the Powerpoint file to remain small, it is important to format the pictures before saving the file. Here's what I do: Right click on the pic, then choose Format Picture, then choose in lower left of box Compress, in Compress Pictures box click on all of these: All Pictures in Document; Resolution to Web/Screen (you will notice the res changes to 96 dpi) and BOTH lower options for compressing and deleting cropped sections of pictures. Click OK then OK again in the other Format Picture box.
Also when I am done I select all pix on each page by clicking the mouse in the top left of the slide and dragging it to form a box down to the bottom right. This selects all pix on the slide and then I do the following: In box after right click choose Grouping > click Group (this selects all pictures within the dotted line box made from the mouse). If you want to edit or add pix you need to do the same only Ungroup beforehand. This step is not necessary but I find it useful. Once these are grouped they can be saved as jpg files or whatever, which is what I did for this blog.
I hope none of this sounded basic or condescending - that was not my intention.
Let me know if any of this was useful or not, or if I omitted some aspect.
Regards Annie

A novel, creative process

I wanted to extend the ‘creative flow’ theme of my blog entries lately to include the creative process of constructing a story worth writing.

Emma Darcy says in The Secrets of Successful Romance Writing that she starts with a single situation and visualizes it in her head. She asks herself questions about this one scene—like what is happening, why it happened and for what purpose. I like how she equates this part of the creative process to a jigsaw puzzle. If pieces don’t fit or if she has too many mixed pieces, she aborts the project and starts again.

First ideas for my next story have just been put down on paper and I hope it is worth writing! It’s certainly shaping up that way, so I may soon be in a frenzy to get those words on the page. In my previous manuscript I had included a couple who were already married. As I’d already nutted out their personalities and really liked them, I started asking myself those questions of how did they meet and what circumstances drove them into each other's arms. The answer took months to come but now it has just dawned on me and it is so obvious that it just isn’t funny. Actually it’s a bit of a ‘doh’ moment for me because it should have been clear all along.

Not sure if you’ve noticed my problem or not yet. Because this story precedes the previous one, I will have to lay the older one down for a while. The new one is set a decade before but the old one has already helped the new story because a lot of the dramatic ending I have in mind has already been mapped out, but the consequences of that event are revealed in the older manuscript.

Has anyone else had this happen during their creative process or has there been such conflicting ideas that you've just had to abort and start again?

Regards Annie

Creative Play

Thanks to everyone who commented on my Creativity post last week. It is a subject we could discuss forever and probably will.
Here are some pix we took showing creativity at play. I am amazed at just how creative littlies can be-though the clever ones belong to 'teacher-in-the-making' Aunty Zoey.

A child looks at an exercise bench and sees a bus. So everyone has to get on board and pay their money before they climb on board! A child draws, paints and plays with play-dough creating another world not restricted by perspective. A child tells a story with full expectation that imaginations will be perceived as reality. Aah to be a child again with no restrictions on our creativity.

Oh and here is a pic of the gorgeous necklace Zoey made for me. I love it.

(Not my pearly complexion or pretty neck!!)
Regards
Annie

Creativity

I went to a workshop on the weekend for creativity. It used drama to release the creativity within each of us. It was fun and actually turned out to be very relaxing.
We were each asked to define creativity. Here's my answer: the outward expression of an inward yearning.

Creativity can take many forms. The most obvious is within the arts. We understand clearly the outward expression of artists, writers, potters, handicrafters, dramatists and other arts creators. But what of a smart business person who finds a gap in the marketplace and cleverly finds a product to fill the niche? I consider that as 'creativity'. How about you? In what other unusual areas do you see the outward expressions of an inward yearning?

My daughter-in-law creates the most beautiful hand-crafted jewelry. My son has a very inventive mind for business ideas. My brother is an artist who now sees the abstract within the reality, expressed via his digital camera, to amazing effects. Many people I love are musicians. They make such beautiful creations. My hubby builds with his hands, creating something new every day. I don't really like cooking, but I know others who love it and create the most awesome meals etc. My best friend decorates cakes for special occassions. My sister-in-law is a floral artist. As a family, we have also examined how creatively we can incorporate learning into child's play. And of course, there's all of you out there, creating new sentences and stringing them together! Amazing.
The options for using creativity in our everyday lives are almost endless.

What do you think?

Regards Annie

Holiday coming up

Thanks Chicki, Eric and Suz for responding to my last post. I forgot to say that we are not going on holidays until May. So I guess I will have to wait a little while heh?
Regards Annie

Rewrite

I wasn't going to post about writing as I am not doing any ATM. But then I thought about what I am doing and thought I would share with you.
I have decided to change the ending of my story. As it is a finished manuscript it will affect most everything. Someone challenged me (prob reading this now) to put the characters motivation in one word. That did make me think because I'd never defined it that precisely. In doing so I realized that by changing the ending of the story the motivation of the major characters is changed, therefore their entire perspective and portrayal within the story changes along with it. So carefully she must proceed. In order to do this correctly and because of some big personal issues also ATM I am laying this down just for a week or so.
Now, personally we are planning a holiday. I would like to share it with you. I managed to get some great sale priced flights to Victoria and from South Australia back to Queensland. You Aussies have already preempted me I guess. We are doing the Great Ocean Road. Flying to Geelong then hiring a car, then driving along the iconic coastline for 10 days to Adelaide where we will fly home.
For those of you who don't know about this amazing part of the world - this is the southern end of Australia and has some magnificent coastal views. We are planning to drive about 200ks per day and visit a friend half way. I'm sure I will let you know how it all goes, both itinerary and actual trip, not to mention photos. Speaking of which, do a search on flickr.com for 12 Apostles, you won't be disappointed.
Regards Annie

To honour you

My ALL TIME favorite shot that I took in the Privy Garden of Hampton Court Palace in London, England.
I post this to honor those who have passed this week.
My Auntie Jean, my neighbor Bruce, and a little girl called Clare, aged 11.


Click on image to see its delicate beauty...

Australia Day weekend

CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO SEE THE LARGER SIZE:
Views from Point Glorious lookout. Abseiling is done from the rocks here. I have based my story around consequences from an abseiling, rock climbing accident. Meanwhile enjoy the views. No drought here...








Warning: This is a 7MB movie. Sorry if you don't have broadband.



Now, here are the ones I promised some of you...

Tragedy, fiction and reality

Okay, now I am feeling pretty terrible. The tragedy my heroine has to deal with has just happened for real. Close to where I live, a young woman fell to her death during a climbing accident. Of course in my story the victim was a male. The situation sounds very similar to what I conceived in my head (well, with the help of my rock-climbing instructor son).

The Sunshine Coast Daily reported the news on its website - the original article can be found here.

It was a news article that ignited my first thoughts for my first manuscript. A group of climbers got into difficulty in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales in Australia. I researched the topic and found many instances where accidents occurred, similarly to the one mentioned here. I figured where there was a group of young people on adventure there was bound to be a love interest. Then the 'what ifs' started happening. And my story was born.

While the loss of a loved one is a sad thing in real life, don't forget the power of a tragedy to build emotion, action or progress the plot in a work of fiction.

Regards Annie

Making something from nothing

Here's a pic of my frangipani in flower. Just a year ago I was given two lovely pots as a gift. I wanted to put something special in them and checked out the stock at the local plant nursery. I decided I could achieve the look I wanted by raiding my own garden. What you see here is the result.
What you can't see is the determination to make something from nothing. To use what was in front of me, taking some effort to plant the thing, water it and watch it grow. Funny thing about frangipani is that it may look like it's growing, then all of a sudden it has used up the sap within the branches and struggles to survive. I've got to say I thought this one was going to die. After waiting a LONG time, along with a commitment to keep watering while it looked dead, I started to see some signs of life. Now I am enjoying its reward.
Not sure if you've picked it yet (excuse the pun), but this whole process can be juxtaposed with the writing process. It takes a lot of hard work, patience and a commitment to nurture the gift within, even as it struggles for life.
We must take something which only exists as a thought and put the ideas down on paper, make them coherent, throw in some complications, resolve the issues and with any good fortune, it will be entertaining. But then even when the words are already on the page, we need to prune it by editing, plant it by targeting it where it will flourish, water it by networking and marketing and learning more about our craft, and then wait for signs of life!! Hopefully one day we will all reap the reward of our labors.
Annie

Effervescent personalities

An Inside Sport magazine article has broached on the topic of personality on the tennis court, saying there was a complete lack of effervescent personalities.
Do your characters have effervescent personalities? It is an interesting question. If they don't, then what kind of appeal do they have?
A personality profile is one of the first things I fill in around the skeleton of my new characters. Not everyone can be that "effervescent" person but it is important to give your story real personalities. I recently read a sentence during a critique that seemed totally out of character for this particular character in the story. By compiling the personality profile, the writer is able to regularly check to make sure real personalities are being portrayed.
Of course, the alpha male, in my opinion is totally unreal but that's another topic.
How do you make your characters appear real or true to their personalities? Do you do a profile or just model them after 'real people' you know?
Regards
Annie

Invincible summer

Greetings all. Happy New Year.
Although the Christmas holidays weren't really kind to our family, there were no disasters or tragedies. Even in the hard times, glimmers of hope often emerge to bring a smile to our face or joy to our hearts. I cling to those and look forward to more of them in 2008.
The new year gives us a time of retrospect, to look back but also look forward. What are you looking forward to? Soren Kierkegaard's quote about living life forward but understanding it backwards, caught my eye this week. Don't you wish you had hindsight today! If only we knew then what we know now. How differently would we act or react or make decisions. If only we had hindsight sooner. But then that would deter from the experience of life itself.
Albert Camus wrote "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer". Some times we must dig deep to find that invincible summer but it is always there. Never lose touch with it. If you don't know what your invincible summer is, I really hope you find it in 2008.
Your life's destiny dwells there.
Annie