Thursday, May 10, 2012

A New Perspective


by Editor Anne Seymour

Who doesn’t hate writer’s block? There is nothing I abhor more than staring at that blinking cursor, almost teasing me with every blink. So, as a writer, how do you fight back? How do you tell that blinking cursor that you will not conquer me?
How about a fresh perspective? Close the manuscript, take a step back, and look at everything from a different or new angle.
In every good manuscript, there are many elements, but in this blog I will focus on four hot topics: the plot, Point(s) of View, setting, and characters. When writer’s block hits, taking a fresh perspective on any one of these four essentials can help you triumph against the dreaded empty blinking cursor.
The plot of a manuscript is the plan, idea, or main story of a literary work. Without a distinctive plot, a manuscript cannot excel. Yet, just because you have decided on a plot for your story, doesn’t mean that your plot cannot grow, expand, or even change.
For example, in Crimson Rose, I read a plot that centers on a madman threatening to blow up a shopping mall if his brother is not released from prison. You, as the author, are stuck with how to continue the story. Maybe you could do this: develop the plot more by allowing the main character (hero) to be another brother of the villain and the incarcerated. Now the plot has more dimensions and possibilities as a family affair. Never limit the possibilities of your plot! You will only hurt your manuscript by doing this. Francis Quarles, an English poet said, “My soul, sit thou a patient looker-on; Judge not the play before the play is done: Her plot hath many changes; every day Speaks a new scene; the last act crowns the play.”
Next, let’s focus on Points Of View. A Point Of View is the position of the narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrator’s outlook from which the events are depicted and by the attitude toward the characters. Every word in a manuscript must be told from a certain Point of View, making this element critical to a story. When faced with writer’s block, changing a Point of View, expanding one, or adding another one can help eliminate the problem.
For example, in Crimson Rose, I read a story written in first person Point of View, all told from the perspective of the female main character. The author was unsure how to continue the story. I suggested a change in Point of View. Instead of first person, the manuscript was changed to third person with the hero and heroine’s Point of View. The story opened up and bloomed with this new perspective.  Henry Ford said, “If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from the person’s angle as well as from your own.”
Now let’s talk about setting. The setting of a novel is the locale or period in which the action takes place. For example, our story takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, during present time. To add a new perspective to the manuscript, we could expand the setting by changing the time of day, which casino in Las Vegas the action takes place, or even add some nearby areas, like Hoover Dam.
A character in a story is the last element I will focus on in this blog meant to help beat the dreaded writer’s block. A character, like a human being, is individual and must be given dimensions. If stuck with how to continue a story, consider giving your characters more depth. Add traits, tics, flaws and strengths to your characters. For example, a historical heroine who is a lady, swears, rides horses, can shoot like a pro but has the flaws of trusting everyone and being clumsy.
To conclude, I hope some of my suggestions will help in defeating the dreaded blinking cursor. But above all, remember that closing the computer, taking a step back, then coming back to your work will help in any new perspectives needed to complete your manuscript successfully. Happy Writing! 

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Launch Party Picture Gallery


Welcome to the Honky Tonk Hearts Series Launch Party!  Think of this as an added section of the barn....here I'll be posting all the pictures to go along with the party we are having on the main loop tonight (6pm to 10pm EST)
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Congratulations to Julianne who won the grand prize Honk Tonk Hearts prize pack! 
Vonnie Davis generously donated this T-shirt to give away for a random draw AND a second one to be put into the grand prize tote.  Winner of the random Giveaway #6--Kathy (Kat1reader)

Giveaway #4 Guitar pendant necklace--winner LaVerne.

Giveaway #2 was a pink Wild Rose Press Tote Bag...congratulations to Ann Campbell, winner of the random draw
I'm sweet on cowboys...and mega lollies...oh and my new find pretzel M&Ms.


The Morning After cover

This is me getting the barn all ready for the big Launch Party....and someone will be winning a Honky Tonk Hearts T-shirt just like the one I'm wearing, amongst other cool items in our grand prize Honky Tonk Hearts Prize pack that will be given away at the end of the night's festivities.  Not to mention we have a number of other giveaways tonight as well.  So come on over and join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheWildRosePress/

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Birthday Party Winners!


Birthday Prizes from the Wild Rose Press

Congratulations to
Emily Tardy for winning a Kindle Fire!

25.00 digital gift certificates to either The Wild Rose Press or The Wilder Roses (erotic romance) digital catalogs are going to...

flchen1
ShadowLuvs
TraceyD
Amy Smith
Jenni Jacobs

All Winners will be notified by email, facebook, or Twitter.

Thank you for celebrating with The Wild Rose Press

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Happy Wishes!

Happy Birthday TWRP! 


I want to thank my wonderful editors, Joelle for making Moon Shifter shine. Thanks to Angela Anderson for my book cover.

And to Lill for helping me with Magic of the Loch! You're the best! Rae Monet designed this book cover. I couldn't be happier!

Here's to hoping for many more birthdays TWRP!

Happy B-Day TWRP!

Happy to join the party. I am new to The Wild Rose Press, and love hearing about all the happy writers here. Callie has been great and has helped so much with working out the kinks in my first published WIP, Changes In Autumn, soon to be released. Thanks so much TWRP. Here's to all the years ahead!

Happy Birthday TWRP - from the Historical Department


Nothing is more exciting than reading historical romance! It can have murder and suspense, danger and adventure, travel and home truths, all rolled into one great story with dashing, handsome hero and heroine extraordinaire who become our closest friends for the duration of the pages...

NicoleD’Arienzo - I love historical romance and consider it the ultimate form of time travel.... without ever leaving my favorite chair. But perhaps the very best part of being the managing editor of our historical division here at TWRP for the past six years is what the authors have taught me. When we were preparing to open our doors for business, I knew the main thing I wanted to give our authors was variety--the freedom to write about any period in history, even recent history. Not only did our authors take me up on that, they've improved upon it, giving our four historical lines more variety and flavor than I could have ever imagined. If you think historical romance is all Gone With the Wind or Wuthering Heights.... then you haven't met our authors! Stop by our little corner of the garden and visit a while. Your next heart-stopping adventure awaits!

So while we, the editors, celebrate six years in the garden, I raise my glass to the authors who embraced our historical department and made it their own.

And now a celebratory word from the talented, devoted editors who make up the historical department here at TWRP:

I'm Allison Byers. This is my 5th year with TWRP. I began my career here editing in Last Rose and Sweetheart. Then a few months after I started, an opening in the Historical Department--the genre I truly love--became available, and now I'm in editing heaven...well most of the time. I have had the privilege of working with so many talented authors who write awesome stories. I enjoy stepping back in time and reliving history. It is my opinion that historical romances are the real escape literature--allowing the reader to experience the sights and sounds of eras gone by. It has been a great five years here at TWRP, and I hope for many more to read wonderful stories and get to know lots of great writers.

Susan Yates - I remember when I first discovered historical novels. I don't remember the specific book, but I do know the author was Georgette Heyer. I was  hooked. From that time forward, I read every historical novel I could get my hands on. Some of my favorite authors were Georgette (of  course!), Jane Aiken Hodge, Jean Plaidy, and Sylvia Thorpe. I loved how those authors could transport me to another time and place, show me things about history that I didn't know, and make me care about their characters. That is still what I love about historical novels and why I love editing for the historical lines of The Wild Rose Press. I get to read really great stories that transport me from the here and now to the way back when, stories that take me on a journey and make me fall in love with a terrific hero and heroine along the way.

Nan Swanson - Historicals are rich in incidental information—the attitudes, the behavior, the culture, the dress, everything about a time we can never revisit until the fabulous time machine is invented for real. My favorite historical line at TWRP is Vintage Rose, the 1900s, maybe because I remember much of the last half of it and have heard so many stories about the first half (and before) from my parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other older folks. A story told by someone who lived it or witnessed it is an escape into reality, the reality that was his life, that she sees in her mind’s eye as she speaks, that becomes reality to me as I hear it. While working on a historical romance I am often transported to a world I may have heard of but never lived in, surroundings unfamiliar to me personally that become as familiar as my own home as I read and edit that book, all through the magic of an author’s ability to bring the people of that time and place to life with her writing skills.

The Wild Rose Press, Inc. is a special place to work first of all because it is full of warm and congenial people, whether authors, editors, readers, management, whoever. There are no strangers. I love the way the founders had everything so well thought out and organized even before they opened the doors, and how they continue to keep everyone focused on our goal of nurturing authors and helping them grow. Keeping processes organized and up to date is part of that effort, and so is the constant communication between all of us as we work together to produce the very best book possible for every contracted manuscript. I’m proud to be a part of TWRP and celebrate its 6th birthday!

Win A Kindle Fire and TWRP Gift Certificates

It's our birthday and you get presents! Happy 6th Birthday to the Wild Rose Press. Spend the day with us here on the blog, on facebook, Twitter, the Wilder Blog, and the editor's blog. Winners today will be drawn from those at our party stops. So follow us, leave a comment, share our tweets, be our friend on FB and celebrate with us.

TWRP authors, tell us about your books.

Happy 6th Birthday to The Wild Rose Press!

Just dropping in today to send a shout-out to The Wild Rose Press and its Editor-in-Chief, Rhonda Penders! Both celebrate their birthdays today, and what an occasion it's going to be! Thank you so much for helping me on the road to publication with my Elemental Series. EARTH and WATER are the successes they are because of you and the awesome talent of Faery Rose editor Sarah Hansen! Congrats, and here's to many more terrific years!