Running With Quills: Suzanne confesses: My Brain is Going Off to Tuscany Without Me

Welcome to Running With Quills, your online newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what your favorite authors (that would be us) are doing throughout the year. Here you will find the release dates of our new books and get information about our backlists. We'll preview our cover art here long before the books hit the stores and we'll keep you informed about works-in-progress and special projects. You'll also receive advance notice of signings and appearances. From time to time we'll give you a peek at our worlds, tell you what we're reading, and introduce you to some new authors.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Suzanne confesses: My Brain is Going Off to Tuscany Without Me

NOTE: Since my brain is going off on holiday without me (I'm completing the manuscript of my latest opus this month before facing the myriad challenges in front of me, i.e. cleaning out the lint between the keys of my computer keyboard with a Q-tip) I beg your indulgence about reprinting an abbreviated version of a recent speech I gave in place of my regular blog.

SUZANNE’S TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR THE ROMANCE WRITER (or for any writer really. In fact, many of the commandments also apply to other professions/jobs.)

Commandment #1: Know Thyself

How do you feel about love? Sex? Men? Money? Marriage? Children? Truth? Honor? Justice? Love at first sight? Crocodiles?

Commandment #2: Know Thy Voice

Your voice sets you apart from anyone and everyone else. You will reveal yourself in ways even you could never imagine or will ever realize.

Commandment #3: Know Thy Purpose

Why are you writing? What drives you? What motivates you? How much are you willing to do — and sometimes sacrifice — to succeed?

Commandment #4: Know Thy Own Reading Preferences

What we love to read is often what we end up writing. Sometimes we write what we’d like to read but can’t find in the marketplace.

Commandment #5: Know Thy Market

Pay attention. Educate yourself. Join Romance Writers of America (RWA). If you want to write series romance read series romance and a lot of it. Read professional journals, i.e. Publishers Weekly. Go to book stores and browse for effective titles and covers, NOT to copy but to study. Ask yourself why they work or don’t work.

Commandment #6: Know Thy Writing Strengths

Capitalize on them. If you’re funny, then be funny. If you’re melodramatic, then be melodramatic in your writing.

Commandment #7: Know Thy Writing Weaknesses

Always work to improve. Always be reading and writing, studying and critiquing and seeking to improve your skills in storytelling, plotting, writing dialogue, etc.

Commandment #8: Respect Thy Reader

Never write or talk down to your readership. Assume that they are right beside you all the way. Treat them and yourself with the same respect.

Commandment #9: Respect Thy Chosen Profession

Writing romance is a most honorable profession. Be proud to read and write romance. If you can’t do it with grace and pride and respect, then you should chose some other path to follow. NEVER criticize other romance writers or the romance writing profession in public. Discretion is always in style. (Besides, if you want to criticize in public, you may as well be a critic.)

Commandment #10: To Thine Own Self Be True

You are who you are. Be the same person whether you’re an aspiring writer or the published author of a hundred novels, a beginner or a best-seller.

So, inquiring minds want to know: What do you do after finishing a particularly challenging project or meeting a deadline? Is your brain mush like mine? Do you take time off? Plan a special celebration? Pop the cork on a magnum of champagne?

If your brain went off somewhere without you, where would it go?

Cheers!
Suzanne

35 Comments:

ashefrog said...: Wow, great blog Suzanne.

My brain is usually mush after a particularly challenging project. But the thrill of completion and absence of weight on my shoulders carries me through.

A couple of days off is good if you can do it. A celebration is even better.

Sometimes I treat myself to a small shopping spree or mini spa treatment to celebrate . (surprised this wasn't mentioned); 5:43 AM
Lori Foster said...: LOL!!! Great blog, Suzanne. And since I'm currently in a similar state, I can completely relate!
Hugs!

Lori; 5:47 AM
Lizelle from South Africa said...: When I'm really tired, and my brain goes off without me, it goes to the sea. Speciffically to Umhlanga Rocks. Think white beaches and tropical type weather on our West Coast. And if I celebrate after finishing something really challenging, I useally cellebrate with my friends and lots of coctails. We've even given it a name, Coctail Night!!!; 6:06 AM
susanna in alabama said...: When I finish a big project, I first neaten my house, which will have gone to even greater ruin than usual. Then, released from the fear of the health department condemning my house, I buy a stack of books, corral my latest quilting project, and spend a day alternating between reading and quilting while watching TV - usually Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, Miss Marple, or various thriller/ mystery movies. Pizza and chocolate are frequently involved. I also will spend some time with my nieces, ages 6, 4 and 6 mo. It's very relaxing to read to them, or play with dolls, or color. I love to color!

Where my mind goes... into the Smoky Mountains or down to an ocean beach, someplace where I can hear water, feel nature and not see any other people. And where the temps range from 65-72. I do not do heat.

And thank you for the tips, Suzanne; very wise and clear. I would add one more that I struggle with: Believe you have a story to tell in a way no one else can. Then trust yourself to tell it.

Keying off your #2, about revealing yourself - does that ever feel really scary?; 8:21 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: lizelle from south africa~ What a lovely description of going off to the sea!

(I confess my brain is going off to Tuscany, in part, for the chianti and Big Tuscan Reds!:-); 9:43 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: susanna in alabama~ I love your tip about having a unique story to tell and then trusting yourself to tell it!

Is it scary to reveal ourselves? Yes, imho, it takes courage to be a writer.; 9:47 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: ashefrog~ You've sold me on the idea of going for a mini-spa treatment.

In fact, I'm going to book a massage and facial for next month!
Great idea!; 9:49 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Lori, hugs right back. I know we have many of the same challenges and rewards in our busy lives right now. :-)

Does your brain go somewhere special while you're on hiatus? Maybe down to that lovely pond in your own backyard?; 9:52 AM
Shiloh Walker said...: If you’re melodramatic, then be melodramatic in your writing.

oh wow... so I've got a license to be melodramatic? cool.

;)

What do you do after finishing a particularly challenging project or meeting a deadline? I'm usually so bogged down I have to start the next one. I usually try to do something though. Get a manicure. A massage. Depends on how tired I am and how much money I have to blow.; 10:13 AM
elizabeth said...: When my brain goes AWOL, it exercises its constitutional right to tight lips.

*wonders what my brain is doing*; 10:19 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Shiloh, I don't think a license is needed in your case. :-)

Elizabeth: That's why I picked Tuscany. Surely you've heard that famous tagline: "What happens in Tuscany, stays in Tuscany." :-); 10:28 AM
DFender said...: Tuscany, Vegas... why not? As for after finishing a project...
I usually go on to the next project 'cuz isn't there always one just waiting?

Then, after I've exhausted my patience (no challenge) and my brain (slightly higher challenge) I usually grab the top book of my TBR list and soak in a bubble bath with a glass of wine or a cuppa coffee (depending on the season).

As time allows and for complete stress relief I try and talk the DH into a long weekend somewhere, anywhere as long as it isn't at home and there are no work or children worries to be immediately dealt with.

My brain goes off to Charleston, SC to stroll the historic district or to the French Quarter in New Orleans to loiter at Cafe DuMonde, scarf beignets and slurp chicory coffee... ahhhhhhhhhhh.

Wow... has anyone seen my brain?
;)

Deb

kfzbhi: Kicking forward, zephyrs blow horses insistently.; 12:32 PM
talpianna said...: I have a brain?

dvjnj --Don't vend Jayne New Jersey. (Sell her the Brooklyn Bridge instead.); 2:53 PM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Wow... has anyone seen my brain?
;) Deb

Hey Deb,

I think I saw it at Wal-Mart! :-) (re: Christina Dodd's interview.); 3:00 PM
DFender said...: Ha! The greeter probably threw it in someone's cart wrapped in a gum wrapper...

:-); 3:24 PM
Stella said...: Hey, Deb: Do you realize Suzanne just said she thought she saw your brain in WalMart and Dfender thinks it was squished up in a gum wrapper? Are you going to take that?

Stella:); 3:44 PM
Ranurgis said...: Great rules for anybody to follow in writing and in life. Quite often in the last few years, I've tried to be someone I'm not. It's just brought me more grief when I've tried to be what other people thought I should be. Unfortunately, they've tried to do what they've accused me of doing: manipulate me.

I don't write books but lately I've written some reviews of books and especially of my travels and that's where my brain has been without me: in some of my favorite spots in Europe. And even there I tried to follow some of the rules for better, i.e., more interesting writing. I don't know if I've developed a voice but I tried to make it not too dry.

If I've finished something that's been on my mind for a while, I lie down and read a book or go to sleep depending on my fatigue factor.

I've been trying to finish a monthly task that I thought would be easy but which I hate. I'm a week behind in getting it in. Of course, the longer I delay the worse I feel. So I want to just get it over with. But not tonight, I don't think, but I should. But then it's already after midnight. What shall I do? I still haven't cleared off my desk; does that have to be done before I can get the "task" done. Oh, well, I'll think about it tomorrow...er, later today.

hkbuwgh - He kept bugging until we got home.; 9:40 PM
Ranurgis said...: Oh, yeah, talking down to readers. Some years ago, I read a book set in Rome during Roman times. Of course it involved Roman life and customs. I found some useful information there, e.g., that the Romans started building apartment buildings using concrete (?) a long, long time ago.

But what really bothered me about this book was that the author would call something by its Latin name and in brackets put what it was in English. Was I reading a textbook or a novel? Besides, I took Latin and know quite a bit about the language. There are definitely other ways to introduce other languages and make the terminology clear to readers who don't know that it means. Definitely a case of talking down to readers which also made for very poor style.

Right now I'm reading a book with a number of Welsh terms which are not completely clear. How do I find their meanings? If I really need to, I can probably find them somewhere on the Net. However, the author uses them in such a way that the general if not the exact meaning is clear. Is she talking down to me? No, she's letting me decide whether I need further clarification. A very wise writer and I'm hugely enjoying the book instead of rolling my eyes over every term translated.; 10:06 PM
Stella said...: Ranurgis: I think the wise writer learns to use unfamiliar words in clear context. As you write, most of us dislike being talked or writeen down to...

Stella; 3:39 AM
Christina Dodd said...: Suzanne, what a great blog! Right now, I'm writing something very different than my usual fare, and every time I stop, I freak out. I needed someone to tell me it's okay to be melodramatic.

Ignore those ugly rumors that I'm already melodramatic enough. (Shaddup, Stella.)

And tonight I'm celebratiing by going to see PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. About damned time.; 5:47 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Stella wrote: I think the wise writer learns to use unfamiliar words in clear context.

Stella, well said!; 8:29 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Christina, I'm in the same boat. I'm writing something very different, very dramatic, even melodramatic, and sometimes I wonder if I'm pulling it off.

I have one short scene/chapter in my Opus that I love and that I feel is the essence of what I'm going for. Whenever I fear I'm losing my way, I go back and read that scene.

Also, I can't wait to see "Pirates," which for me is still a couple of weeks away.; 8:35 AM
DFender said...: Stella said "Hey, Deb: Do you realize Suzanne just said she thought she saw your brain in WalMart and Dfender thinks it was squished up in a gum wrapper? Are you going to take that?"

Stella...
Uhm. I kinda hafta "take that" as I'm the one that said it... lol lol. DFender is me, myself and Deb...lol. Y'know, that whole "nickname" thing. ;)

Since my brain function is limited today it probably is in a gum wrapper...

Deb...DFender; 8:51 AM
cate said...: After the challenging project/deadline/meeting I definitely take time for myself as a reward. It could be anything or everything, just as long as I feel better! I'll go on rewarding myself until I start feeling guilty. There's always another project on the horizon! Work hard, play hard!

If my brain went off somewhere without me it would go motoring on the St. Lawrence Seaway, checking out the islands and beautiful houses. I girl can dream!; 9:18 AM
Lou said...: When my brain goes AWOL, it goes to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. The vastness, silence, and breath of ancient folks on the wind bring peace to my soul.; 10:17 AM
AgTigress said...: Ranurgis said; Right now I'm reading a book with a number of Welsh terms which are not completely clear. How do I find their meanings?

If you do need to know any Welsh words or expressions, provided they are correctly used I shall probably be able to help.

Romans and concrete: yes, the manufacture and use of concrete was one of their many major contributions to architecture and engineering.

:-); 1:18 PM
Ranurgis said...: Okay, I'll see if I remember them. One definitely had to do with sleeping, a two-syllable word ending "-akh" but I had to give the book back to the library. Another one was "cantev" I think, and it was used to indicate that that's where they were looking for more men to make up a small army.

A name that amused me was "Pwilly" for a dog. It was really a fun book to read and like the first one I read showed a lot of insight into character and people's motivations.; 8:55 PM
Ranurgis said...: Considering that I'm the daughter of an architect, I should have know about the concrete. However, I was never aware, for some reason, of the fact that there were multistoried buildings in the Roman Empire and when I saw the Colosseum in Rome it didn't really click as to what it must have been made of. I just figured that it was all made of built-up bricks--which is what you could actually see.; 9:02 PM
Dani said...: one of the books I read had a glossary sort of thing at the back for certain words which I liked as I thought it didn't interrupt the story and for those who did know the terms could just merrily go along too. I thought that makes sense.; 9:48 PM
AgTigress said...: Ranurgis: the letters 'k' and 'v' are not used in Modern Welsh, so I presume the spellings are intended to be medieval. The word for a specific division of a county or shire is/was cantref, which means a 'hundred' ('hundred' was used for such a division in English as well). Single 'f' is pronounced 'v' in Welsh. I suppose the word might well have been spelt 'cantrev' in former times.

'Pwilly' is very odd and does not resemble any name in the current language, so I think it is pure invention. The 'll' is (and always was) an aspirated sound that most non-Welsh-speakers find rather hard to pronounce. The best substitute for it in English spelling/pronunciation is 'thl', so 'Pwilly' would be spoken 'Poo-ithl-y' or 'Poo-ithl-uh'. The letter ell (double-l) was certainly written 'lh' in older Welsh spellings, so I wonder why it isn't here, if they are using v for f and kh for ch?

I don't know what the word pertaining to sleep might have been: the verb 'to sleep' is cysgu. The 'kh' would would written 'ch' in modern spelling, and is pronounced like the guttural ch in German hoch.

One of the really major achievements of Roman architecture/engineering was the manufacture of a tough concrete that, amongst other virtues, sets hard underwater. It results from the admixture of a vocanic 'sand', known today as pozzolana, which is obtainable in large areas of western Italy.

I am an architect's daughter, too. My dear father is 91, and he is in the last weeks of his long life now, which is why I am not contributing here very often.; 1:52 AM
AgTigress said...: For 'vocanic' in my post above, read volcanic. Obviously my proof-reading skills are below par at the moment.; 1:55 AM
laurat said...: totally printing out your commandments~!; 6:11 AM
AgTigress said...: Incidentally, Dani's comments about glossaries seem to me to be absolutely right. The best way of handling foreign words/expressions, invented words, or difficult pronunciations is to have an alphabetical list of them, with full additional info, at the beginning or end of the book. That way there is no need for clumsy explanations in the text, interrupting the flow of the story, nor does one leave the reader high and dry by failing to explain them at all.

While at it, I should like all novels to have a list of characters, too, as was always done by Ngaio Marsh. And an index. Also some bibliographical references, if relevant.

:-); 7:05 AM
Eve Silver said...: Suzanne, those are commandments to live by...and write by.; 2:17 PM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Hi Eve,

I'm glad you like the commandments.

It was great sitting next to you at the literacy signing at RWA! Look forward to seeing you next year at the conference!

Suzanne; 3:30 PM

Previous Posts

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Suzanne confesses: My Brain is Going Off to Tuscany Without Me

35 Comments: