Escaping your world

I love writing because I can escape my everyday life. Originally this is why I started reading romance novels. But for me it just wasn't enough. I wanted to create my own world. I wanted my characters to act a certain way, look a certain way, get with the people I saw fit. No it's not playing GOD. It's creating you own fantasy world. Putting your thoughts into words.
Honestly right now my real world is full of stress and worry, my outlit to releave this is writing. When I write I can be who ever I want, live where ever I want and do what ever I want. That is what's amazing about the creative mind. Always let your imagination run wild in your writing. Great works come from writers with big imaginations. Escape into your writing submerge yourself into the depths of your words.

Making your dreams come true

As you pursue your writing career you may come across some obstacles. I've recently run across my first stumbling block on my own writing career path. Unfortunately there will always be obstacles in your way but it is up to you if you will let it stop you. Right now I'm dealing with how to pay for my RWA membership, my local chapter membership and Dreaming in Dallas ticket. I'm hoping that things will turn around soon so I do not miss out. Going to Dreaming in Dallas and meeting Lucienne Diver has been at the top of my list since I decided to become a novelist. Hopefully I will get that chance. I will keep my head up high and hope for the best. I will continue to blog, tweet and write. Nothing will stop me from dreaming.

When you run into your obstacle make sure not to let it keep you down. Keep on writing. You will be back on your path in no time, just like me.

 
The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Love and Honor Love Scene Spoiler

Max quickly unbuttoned Sarah's wet pajama top, never leaving her lips, and tossed it aimlessly aside. He felt as if he couldn't get enough of her. He needed more. Her dark wet hair stuck to his damp bare skin. Their bodies still moist from the rain storm; he couldn't resist seductively kissing every inch of her exposed flesh. Max gently kissed her slender neck making her whimper with pleasure. He had never met a woman he hungered for as much as he craved her. He then moved his hands below her waist, touching her intimately underneath her pants, under her silky panties. His tongue slid slowly in and out of her mouth caressing her as he slipped his fingers in -between her legs. He felt her soft cry within their kiss. He felt her her nails dig into his back pulling him closer to her. It drove him crazy the little noises she made. The kiss deepened with every movement of his fingers.


Join me later this week and I will share with you a diffrent side of the story.

Romance Novels vs Erotic Novels

I've been asked the question "What's the diffrence between true romance novels and erotic romance novels?"

Romance novels will focus on the romance and emotion of two people. Emotions are focused on more then actual sex. During the sex scenes more milder euphemisms are used. To put it mildly the words used to describe the act of lovemaking is sweeter more innocent. Romance novels are also limited on how many sex scenes are played out. In LOVE AND HONOR, I wrote 4-5 lovemaking scenes. Each scene was brought out by an intense emotional situation that ended up with lovemaking. Typically in romance novels lovemaking/sex is brought on by an intense emotional expeience.

Erotic romance also will have romance in it. Erotic romance will have more intense sex scenes with strong sexual content. The descriptions will be more frank and to the point. While true romance novels focus on the emotional impact of lovemaking, erotic romance focus more on the actual act. Don't confuse erotic romance with pornography. Although both focus on the act of sex, erotic romance novels include well-developed characters and a plot which could exist without the sex acts.
  

Diffrent Types of Romance

After I finished my first novel Love and Honor I decided I wanted to get it published. I had to figure out what category my book fell into. This was a little confusing to me. All I had read at that point was historical romance. ( My tastes have opened up to more genres since then). I've put together a little summary of the different types of romance for your reference.

Contemporary Series Romance - Series romance novels that focus primarily on the romantic relationship and typically set after 1945.


Contemporary Single Title Romance - Romance novels which focus primarily on the romantic relationship, released as individual titles, not as part of a series and set after 1945.

Historical Romance - Romance novels set in any time period prior to 1945, and taking place in any location.

Inspirational Romance - Romance novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are a major part of the romantic relationship.

*Novels with Strong Romantic Elements - A work of fiction in which a romance plays a significant part in the story, but other themes or elements take the plot beyond the traditional romance boundaries. (*An example of a publisher that handles this would be Harlequin’s Luna line; elsewhere such fiction is sometimes labeled 'Womens' Fiction')

Paranormal Romance - Romance novels in which the future, a fantasy world or paranormal happenings are an integral part of the plot.

*Regency Romance - Romance novels in which the majority of the story is set against the Regency period of the British Empire. (*What was once considered the ‘Traditional Regency’ romance, of the kind Mary Balogh and Carla Kelly once wrote – with a shorter word count than longer format historical romances - is considered if not dead, then on life support, and published mostly by smaller presses or as reprints of classics. Therefore, in most cases ‘Regency Romance’ simply refers to romances set in the Regency period.)

Romantic Suspense - Romance novels in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.

Young Adult Romance - Novels with a strong romantic theme geared toward young adult readers.

Category Romance - Mostly Harlequin romances, books in a numbered series identified by ‘line’. Eg: Harlequin Presents, Silhouette Desire.

Erotica - Romance novels with a powerful erotic element, but still following the guidelines of an- Happily Ever After ending.

Love and Sex in Romance Novels

The most common misconception about romance novels is that it's full of nothing but sex. True there could be a few hot and steamy scenes but romance novels are so much more then sex. When you are writing you romance novel be sure to have some kind of build up before your charters just "do it". You want the reader to feel the heat feel the emotions your characters are portraying.

In Love and Honor the first sex scene was built up from Sarah's insecurites. She had not been with a man in years and you could feel her fustration and frightfulness of her lust for this man. When you read the scene you can feel every touch every kiss that Max graces Sarah's body with. This is what the readers want. They want to feel as if it is happening to them.  Your not writing porn. You are writing about longing. Do you remember remember the feeling you had when you first lusted after someone. The first time you made love to this person you craved. This is the feeling you must capture in your writing. Words are powerful in love scenes..use them.

A slow week

Sometimes life gets in the way of our writing. Personally I've fallen into this slump. With my daughter starting fifth grade, working overtime all week, and bills piling up I've found myself struggling to find the time to write. Life can also pull you away from you ideas. I do try and write notes as the day goes by.  I do believe that is the best way to keep your ideas. You as the writer have to learn to delegate. For example today. I worked my overtime, I helped my daughter with her school work, cooked dinner and tucked her into bed. Now is the ME time. Time to write!

New Ideas

I think a good rule of thumb for any writer should be to carry a notebook and pen with them where ever you go. Personally I get creative and juicy ideas all day long. Problem is I don't have time to elaborate on them. It doesn't matter what I'm doing.  I could be people watching at lunch or talking to a good friend. The light bulb pops over my head like a old bugs bunny cartoon and I have to quickly search for my pen and pad. The best ideas come when your not thinking about it. Let your ideas flow like a river! If you have your thoughts written down you could always expand on them when you do have time. I personally will sit and come up with scenes that I feel would be great for a book. Out of those scenes I can build my story.

Try carrying around a notebook and pen. Keep a log of your ideas. This will be very benificial to you.

Love and Honor Summarized

He thought flying jet planes for the Air Force was dangerous, but it was nothing compared to the dangers of falling in love.
This is what Max Edwards tells himself in Love and Honor . A contemporary romance between a divorced mother whose life and love faces continuous threats from her abusive past, and the honorable Air Force pilot who struggles to protect her by her side and from abroad. The manuscript is complete at 89,000 words.
After escaping an abusive marriage, all Sarah Wilson wanted to do was focus on her career and her five year old daughter. Although the abuse stopped after the divorce, Sarah's ex-husband, Jeff, still wanted to control her life. Any hope of a new relationship was out of the question with Jeff still around. But when Sarah accidentally runs into a debonair Air Force pilot, spilling her hot coffee all over his uniform, it leaves her embarrassed and intrigued.

Lieutenant Colonel Max Edwards was a career military man. It wasn't until after his grandmother's death and his run-in with the beautifully clumsy Sarah that his priories changed and he craved a family rather than military life. After a whirlwind romance, one last top secret mission pulls Max halfway around the world and away from Sarah. With Max out of the picture, Jeff takes his queue, trying to manipulate and intimidate Sarah away from Max and back into his bed. What should have been a picture perfect love story has turned into a battle to keep the love alive.

Character Debate - To smoke or not to smoke

I ran across a dilemma as I started writing my new book. My main character I feel should be a smoker. It fits this character's personality as a bad boy with a good heart. I started to wonder with my main character being a smoker would that ruin the fantasy of him?

I've seen debates about condoms and weight but never about smoking.

My question to my readers out there is as followed.

If the main male character in a romance novel was a smoker would that ruin your fantasy of him?

Please email me or post your views.

DREAMING

This is something I wrote many years ago that I though I'd share. I started out as a poet and thought I should share some of my roots.

DREAMING
As I lay on my bed I gently close my eyes.
Entering a world of forbidden enchantment,
there you are!
This place is magic.
I don't have to love you just from afar
you are near me,you hold me in your arms.
Whispering to my soul,
setting my heart a blaze.
My body aches for your touch,
my lips long to devour yours.
So luscious...so succulent,
your kiss is simply intoxicating.
I can not resist your sweet rapture.
I surrender unto you all my earthly passions.
Burning...yearning... craving...
making love with you all through the night.
My heart then begins to ache.
I come to realize I must wake.

*** TEASER ALERT *****

Just a teaser from Love and Honor.

"Drunk on the sweet rapture of the kiss she bestowed on him, he was intoxicated by her essence. Drawing back from the kiss, he looked down at her. Her eyes glistened with a fiery passion. His hand brushed her cheek softly as he trailed his hand and eyes down to her bare chest. “You are so beautiful, Sarah,” he whispered breathlessly."

Acutally that first line is my favorite. I seem to always want to put that in my writings.

On to your next work of art!

After you've successfully finished your first book, your going to need to start you new book. Publisher will want more then just a one book deal. If you are like me you have many ideas on what to do next. Now you have to put pen to paper and start your whole creative process again.

For me since finishing Love and Honor I've had MANY ideas for a second book. One thing I'm noticing with my ideas. I was trying to mold myself into what other people expected me to write. I think this is why none of the other ideas have paned out. I'd get a a chapter in and then loose my idea.

What I'm working on now is something I'm passionate about. Call me a flake but I think I can make a romance out of the whole 2012 mysticism. Two people faced with surviving the end of the world, why can't they find love! ;)

Romance Writer of America Conference- 2010

Romance Writer of America Conference is going on this week and I am so jealous! I love seeing all the pictures and hearing all the stories, keep them coming ladies! I couldn't imagine what it would be like to meet someone as big as Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz. Is there anyone out there that you would just become speechless if you saw?

The world of social networking

Welcome to the world of social networking! Not only do I have a blog I now have a Twitter account. How will I ever find the time to write, just kidding. Seriously, networking is something every aspiring writer needs to do. We live in a world where it is now necessary to have a online presence. For me I was a little hesitant at first. I have had my identity stolen (fairly recently) and that left me a little worried about creating my online world. But I realized that I was not going to let this person keep me away from my dream. If you want to be a published writer don't let anyone stand in your way. Keep moving forward and create your online world!!


You can now follow me on twitter. Just search Jennie Bryant.

Who's In you movie Part 2

Okay the book I'm working on now has another pilot in it but the pilot is a female, the main character.

Here is my cast of inspiration for my new book.

Damon Lyons- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Mia Evens- Natalie Dormer
Matt Pines- Zachary Quinto
Brooke Rosen-Bridget Moynahan

Now like in Love and Honor my characters might change as their personalities develop.

Who's In you movie

My newest project is in the works. I have my cast played out in my head. I imagine my story line every night. How I want my actors to play out my scene. For me this is the the fun part of writing. The fantasy of it.

I probably should tell you the full cast of Love and Honor before I tell you the new cast for the new book. LOL.

Max Edwards - Ben Browder

Sarah Wilson - Jennifer Connelly

Trish- Kate Hudson

Marcus- Jerry O'connell

Jeff- Christin Bale ( he plays such a bad a** in American Psycho how could he not be Jeff)

those are the actor inspiration!

I'll post tomorrow the key members in my newest project "Tropical Triangle" ( Title is a work in progress)

Dreams

A good source for my writing are my dreams. My dreams can tell stories my conscious mind is to scared to tell. Love and Honor started out in my dream four years ago. The scene where Max knocks on Sarah's door in the middle of the night during a bad thunderstorm. After that scene everything else just fell into place. Is there a dream or fantasy that has been plaguing your mind? When it comes to you write them down. Who knows you might have a novel on your hands.

Writing Exercises

There are many ways to find your voice and to keep yourself "RAW". This is also a good way to spark some inspiration on your next book. Pick a word any word at random and take 3 minuets to write something about it. You will be amazed and what your mind can come up with.

When I started doing these exercises, I really didn't know what my true voice was. I was given the world "Leaving" and what came out was dark, mysterious, deep, passionate. I didn't realize that I gravitate more towards the dark side of romance. Try it our and maybe you'll learn something new about yourself.

Try using this link for random words. www.watchout4snakes.com/creativitytools/main/main.aspx

Good luck and just have fun with it!

Rejection

Rejection, this will happen to all of us. This has happened even to the best of us. No matter how good of a writer you are you will get a rejection letter sometime in your career path. It's just the nature of the business. You have to remember to keep on trying and not let those rejection letters keep you down. Everyone has different taste and your book will not be the same fit for everyone. You have to remember to keep your head up high and to follow your dreams! Dreams can come true if you pursue them. I've compiled a list of authors and how many times they have been rejected. It just goes to show you even the best will get rejected.

Stephenie Meyers- "Twilight" was rejected 9 times

Jack Canfield- "Chicken Soup for the soul" was rejected 140 times

Stephen King- "Carrie" was rejected 30 times

Margaret Mitchell-"Gone with the wind" was rejected 38 times

John Grisham-"A time to kill" was rejected 16 times

James Patterson- a dozen times at least

J.K. Rowling- "Harry Potter" - was rejected 12 times

Christie Craig-"Divorced, Desperate & Delicious - was rejected 10,000 times!!!

Even the best of us can get rejected. Just remember to keep on trying and your dreams WILL come true!!!